It’s Okay to Ask for Help: Breaking the Silence Around Depression in Men
Countless men struggle with depression. But if a man in your life is suffering from these symptoms, you might never know it. Men are discouraged from opening up and sharing their feelings. Instead, they’re taught to suppress painful or complex emotions in favor of acting stoic. Furthermore, our culture promotes the idea that for men, mental health struggles are a personal failing and a sign of weakness, rather than common life challenges that nearly everyone faces at some point.
It’s not easy for men to talk about depression. Perhaps you’ve been grappling with depression symptoms lately. Maybe your friend, brother, father, or partner seems like they’ve hit a rough patch. You can create a more welcoming, supportive environment in your social circle. Here’s how to start breaking the silence.
Having Open Conversations
Talking about your own mental health around men who you trust can serve as a “permission slip” for them to open up. Taking the first step can be scary. But when the men in your life know that you’re willing to be vulnerable, they will feel safer sharing their own feelings with you.
When you talk about what you’re going through, you signal that you don’t view mental health troubles as weakness. Instead, it’s something that your social circle can discuss openly, without negative judgments. Your own vulnerability can powerfully transform someone else’s life.
Prioritizing Relationships
Lots of men have difficulty maintaining close friendships. If you don’t feel like you’re particularly close with anyone, it’s only natural to feel uncomfortable about sharing tough emotions with them. But you can turn casual friendships into strong bonds or turn acquaintances into true friends through sustained effort.
Make weekly or monthly plans with your friends so that you know when you’ll see them next, and you can consistently be a part of each other’s lives. When you’re on each other’s calendars, you don’t have to constantly coordinate your schedules. This can result in cancelled plans and missed connections.
Healthy Coping Mechanisms
Everyone needs coping mechanisms to deal with tough times. Life isn’t always smooth sailing. Healthy forms of coping and escapism can temporarily ease emotional pain, giving you the clarity you need to move forward.
Men who are dealing with depression might turn to substances, gambling, or reckless behaviors as coping mechanisms in an attempt to drown out the pain. You can help your friends turn to better coping mechanisms when you spend time together. Anything from enjoying the outdoors to playing sports or watching your favorite movies can be a balm for emotional turmoil.
Mental Health Education
There are lots of common misunderstandings about anxiety, depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and other mental health conditions. These misunderstandings can be especially common amongst men, since they do not talk about mental health as openly, and they’re less likely to seek therapy. Taking the time to learn more about depression and what it looks like in practice can help you identify your own symptoms, decide when to seek help, and support your friends when they need you most.
Normalizing Therapy
Finally, normalizing the idea of therapy can be a step in the right direction. You may be the first person to encourage a friend or family member to talk to a therapist. Alternatively, if you’ve ever gone to therapy in the past, or you’re considering going for the first time, sharing this with your friends could break down a barrier to talking about mental health.
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If you’re struggling with your mental health, reaching out to a depression therapist who has experience supporting men can make a world of difference. Contact our practice to learn more about how we can help.