Therapy Ain't Just for Women

If you think depression and anxiety don't affect men, think again.  The CDC reports that "males take their own lives at nearly four times the rate of females and represent 78.8% of all U.S. suicides."  

I recently came across a great website on exactly this topic: www.mantherapy.org.

Like Dr. Mahogany says, manliness is not defined by the absence of emotions or mental health issues.  All  men face difficulties from time to time -- when life has lost its luster and/or thoughts of ending things start to creep up, the manly (and womanly) thing to do is to pick up the phone and make an appointment to talk with a mental health professional.

If you are contemplating hurting yourself in the immediate future, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or call 9-1-1.

“Keep in mind that part of growing up is dealing with difficult issues, and the benefits can be great if you have the courage to ask for help. Human beings are not designed to go through life alone. No one has to bear the burden of tough times all by themselves.”  ― Jack Canfield

How Will Talking About the Past Help Me?

People often tell me they're hesitant to go to therapy because they doubt much can come from "bitching" or ruminating on childhood wounds. If you feel this way, consider two things:

1) Therapy doesn't have to be a venting session, nor does it have to include hours of discussions about your mother. Many therapists offer a solutions-focused, future-oriented approach. In my practice, I use action-oriented approaches such as drama therapy, skills training, and goal coaching.

‎2) Looking at the past may feel counterproductive. After all, you can't do anything about it now, right? Wrong.

Research shows that our childhood relationships literally determine our brain development. If you grew up in an unpredictable or difficult environment (even if only in some aspects), your body may have learned to be anxious, depressed, or have a hard time in your adult relationships. 

Reviewing your memories and making sense of your life story with a therapist can actually rewire your brain and give you a form of physical integration that promotes health and happiness.