By Frank HealyThe official guide to DepressionAverage:Your rating: NoneOne of the challenges for men...

1. Men’s Mental Health Issues
By Frank Healy
The official guide to Depression
Average:
Your rating: None
One of the challenges for men in the modern world is to accept that they have stress, depression,
anxiety and other mental health issues. Women now expect their man to be open and share his
feelings. In previous generations men were expected to go to work and provide the money. This was
not healthy as men have as much of a need as women to express and heal their feelings. This article
will give you tips on how to seek therapy and handle your feelings in a productive way.
Since it is often hard for a man to share his feelings, it is important to find a therapist whom you are
comfortable sharing with. If you feel comfortable by the end of the first session, then you are with
the right therapist. If you are not comfortable, it is okay to shop for another one.
Many men mask their vulnerable feelings with anger. Men have been taught to be tough and
protective of others. Consequentially, if you feel sad, scared, or your feelings are hurt you cover it
with anger. Many men believe that it is unmanly or weak to cry, look scared, or care what others
think, so they express anger instead. It is healthy to be objective and ask yourself what you are
really feeling. Your therapist can help with this.
Many men have friends with whom they play sports, fish, or hunt with but would not talk to about
their concerns. It is important to have at least one or two friends whom you can share your personal
concerns with. This could include concerns about work, your family, your children, and your
ambitions. Ideally, you could have at least one male friend and one female friend. This could include
family members and your spouse.
When men get upset, what's the first thing they do besides yell? You may go out and run, tinker with
the car, or pack the fishing gear. Often you do not want to talk immediately. It is okay to do an
activity first as long as you then talk to a trusted person.
You rarely if ever see one man approaching another and saying "You hurt my feelings." We just don't
express ourselves that way. There are ways to express yourself without feeling embarrassed about
your vulnerability. In men's groups, when the members get comfortable, they begin to trust each
other.
There are many men who still think that they are supposed to handle everything, and any expression
of vulnerability is an assault on their manhood. It makes more sense to believe that part of being a
man is to have your full range of feelings and express them comfortably. You are not weak just
because you express your feelings.
If someone asks you what's wrong you get upset you may not want to talk immediately. However,

2. keep in mind that the person only wants to help. A good compromise would be to politely tell them
that you don't want to talk now but you will talk later. This works as long as you really do approach
them later and share.
While many men have trouble expressing their feelings, some men go to the other extreme and
complain about everything. These type of men come to therapy when their wives, mothers, or other
significant people in their lives get tired of hearing them complain. There is a difference between a
man who had a rough day at work and needs to vent, and a man who complains about everything. If
you tend to complain about everything, share that with your therapist and work towards a solution.
Many men might think of therapy as long and boring because you tend to want instant solutions to
problems. Often the work towards solving emotional problems takes time, and may not be as fast as
getting a new contract or putting in new piping at work. Ironically, it is useful to think of your issues
as challenges and goals, the solutions are not always clear cut, and it takes time.
Men can benefit from therapy when they have the right attitude and keep an open mind about it. If
you follow the leads from this article, it can help you get the help that you need and maximize your
use of therapy.
My website is www.phenomenalmemory.com
Author's Bio:Â
Frank Healy is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Life Coach. He is one of about 50
people who have been classified as having Hyperthymesia by the University of California. Frank
participated in their reserch studies because he remembers every day of his life since he was six
years old. He is now 53. His memory of each day includes the day of the week, the weather in his
locale, news events and personal experiences. Recalling so much in his life had it's advantages and
disadvantages. The advantages include recall of every happy experience he had with friends, family,
school, and his wife. The corollary of that is that he remembers all of the negative things. Bad days
at work and school, slights from people, bad days at jobs, romantic breakups etc. Before he began
his own journey he would recall bad memories with the same emotional intensity as if he was
experiencing it now. He had learn to let go of the feelings. He now counsels and coaches people to
heal from the ill affects of their own traumatic and unpleasant memories. This can help people be
happier and move on to a successful present and future.
Frank lives with his wife in Dennisville, New Jersey. He is in private practice at Associates For Life
Enhancement in Northfield, New Jersey. Frank enjoys going to the beach, reading, writing, playing
quizzo with friends (It's a trivia game) and playing ball wth his grandsons.
http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/men-s-mental-health-issues