Men may not be used to talking about their emotions or think that sharing them will make them weak. This could lead them to use harmful coping mechanisms like alcohol or drugs. You can help support the men in your life by encouraging them to seek mental health care and continuing to let them know that seeking care is not a sign of weakness.
Increased Self-Awareness
Self-awareness is an essential aspect of mental health, particularly for men. This is because they may feel a stigma against speaking up about their emotional struggles or seeking mental healthcare for fear of being viewed as weak or not masculine. This can be broken down by fostering open communication. Incorporating various tools to facilitate this dialogue, such as journaling, can help men organize their thoughts and better understand how they function daily. Additionally, promoting the idea that seeking professional help, for example, at Elevated Counseling, is not a sign of weakness can reinforce a positive message to combat the toxicity surrounding masculine gender stereotypes. This can be done by sharing stories of men who have benefitted from therapy and other forms of mental healthcare.
Better Communication Skills
Many men struggle to articulate their thoughts and feelings, leading to misunderstandings and strained relationships. Learning to communicate clearly and effectively is a crucial part of therapy. Your therapist will teach you techniques that can help you convey what you mean without aggression or passivity. Similarly, your therapist can also teach you how to listen actively. This means focusing on nonverbal and verbal cues, asking questions to clarify understanding, and showing empathy for the other person’s perspective. In addition, some therapists encourage their clients to participate in an online men’s group or similar initiative to practice communication skills with others in the community. These groups provide a safe space for discussion and can serve to normalize the experience of mental health issues for men.
Increased Resilience
Increasing your resilience helps you better handle life’s struggles and setbacks. While some people are naturally more resilient than others, you can work on your strength through various practices. One strategy is identifying irrational thinking and not blowing things out of proportion. Another is practicing acceptance. For example, if you often get irritated by the way someone else acts, practicing accepting them for who they are can help you cope with their behavior. Research has shown that meaning in life, resilience, loneliness, and psychological distress are all linked. Serial mediation analyses reveal that stability and loneliness mediated the link between meaning in life and psychological distress. These results indicate that interventions targeting these three variables may be helpful for men who are at risk of trauma and psychiatric disorders.
Improved Overall Well-Being
In the past, many men didn’t seek treatment for mental health problems because they thought it was “unmanly.” But those attitudes are changing. Therapy has several benefits, including helping to overcome negative thought patterns and work through past traumas that may be contributing to anxiety or depression. It can also teach you healthy coping skills. A therapist can help you develop strategies to deal with stress, such as exercise or hobbies that focus on physical well-being. In addition, a therapist can offer insight and support during difficult times in your life, such as divorce or the death of a loved one. But it’s essential to find a therapist that is a good fit for you, which may take some time and trial-and-error.
Preventive Care
Men who face mental health issues often feel isolated and alone. They may also be reluctant to seek help because they feel that society or their friends will judge them for needing therapy. This is often a result of the social norms that promote toxic masculinity, which encourage men to be strong and self-reliant. In addition, many men are unaware that they have the option of telemedicine, a convenient and private way to access therapy. Educating people about these options is crucial to increasing awareness of the benefits of therapeutic support for men. While it is not possible to prevent mental illness symptoms from appearing, seeking help at the earliest signs of trouble can significantly improve a man’s quality of life.
