There is a disease that runs rampant among men in western culture – perhaps all over the world – that serves to destroy more lives than almost any other. Whereas cancer, heart disease and other prominent killers of men have noticeable symptoms in the body’s muscles and organs, so too does this one. Unlike other afflictions however, men are far less likely to seek treatment for this malady, even though it can cripple an organ just as quickly.
Mental health is a touchy subject among men, thanks largely to long-held notions of treatment options signaling a loss of or weakness in masculinity. Statistics show that only 14% of men in the United States will seek out help from a mental health professional, compared to almost a quarter of women. Despite this disparity in treatment differentiation, men are more likely than women to commit suicide in their lifetimes, and men suffer from the same mental illnesses – anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression – which women suffer.
Like any illness, mental health issues demonstrate symptoms: difficulty concentrating, lethargy, loss of appetite, even physical pain in some instances. And like other illnesses, mental health issues are often treatable by qualified professionals. Why then do men struggle so mightily to receive treatment for their issues? Is it because men have become so stigmatized that “having issues” is now code for being “less of a man” than others?
Pause for a moment and consider a new way of viewing mental health issues: many issues that we consider to fall under the purview of mental health clinicians revolve around chemical imbalances in the brain – imbalances that are treatable with the right medication and therapy. Regardless, the brain is considered a complex organ, the most complex even, which controls every vital function the body carries out. It is the pilot to our aircraft, the driver to our car. Would we not seek out help to repair our kidneys or our liver if they were damaged? Why should our brain, equally as important as any other vital organ, be treated less than?
Men who feel as though they are suffering from a mental malady are greatly encouraged to seek professional help from a counselor or therapist. Beyond seeking professional help, there are other steps that men could take that could greatly improve their odds of overcoming mental health issues. While this article should not replace – nor should it be construed to represent – official medical advice from a licensed counselor or mental health professional, these are some common sense tactics that have aided individuals over the years in the fight against depression and other mental health issues. Consider them items in the arsenal in the glorious fight…
Confide in a Friend
The only thing worse than being in the fight for mental health awareness is being in the fight alone. Having a friend or confidant who you can rely on and trust to share your feelings with can be an absolute game-changer for men who can often feel isolated in their own headspace. The isolation is what can really drive men down into the gutter, making them feel as though there is no lifeline available to help them up out of their predicament. With that isolation comes intense feelings of guilt and shame, and the beginning of feeling as though they are a burden on others. Having a friend to confide in can lessen this feeling of loneliness and can create a bridge of support to help you navigate through the difficult stretches of the fight.
Learn to Meditate
When approached about the topic of meditation, many people instinctively go towards some visage of Zen Buddhism, with monks in robes chanting mantras and incense burning around them. The truth about meditation is far less complex, and daresay more conventional than that. Anyone can meditate at any time; meditation involves taking some time to center yourself, to clear your mind of issues that are causing you worry or concern for a few moments and to relax. Music can be a boon in helping get you in the right headspace.
Begin to Write
Many health professionals have advocated writing as a means of helping to alleviate the stresses related to mental health issues. Journaling is a popular pastime that can help men expunge some of their unwanted emotional baggage when they do not feel like sharing those feelings openly with others. Writing may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but anyone can write. If journaling isn’t your thing, take a more pragmatic approach and keep a running list of the hobbies or activities you engage in that seem to help you when your mood takes a downward turn. By finding things that lift your spirits and taking note of them, you can go back to that proverbial well in the future and help to ward off potential depressive episodes before they begin.
The fight to reclaim masculinity from the clutches of mental health issues is not an easy one, for the stigmas faced are well-entrenched and a part of masculine culture. But to live your best life means taking inventory in your life and finding where you are rich and where you are deficient. Individuals need not extreme wealth, fast cars or fancy clothes to be connoisseurs in all things, but they do need to be in control of their own mental heath to get the most out of life. To live life to the fullest, that is a maxim that should define masculinity in our time.
