Men’s Issues
Are you feeling lost and uncertain about the way your life is going?
Do you find you are quick to anger or irritability?
Are you struggling in a relationship?
Do you often feel you are falling short or failing at meeting your partner’s expectations?
Would you like more intimacy, affection or sex in your relationship but are at a loss on how to get it?
Are you struggling with sexual performance issues (ED, PE, DE) and wonder if it may be more psychological?
Do you wish you had someone to talk to but are afraid that asking for help isn’t “the manly thing to do?”
While traditionally men have not been the ones to seek out therapy, that doesn’t mean they haven’t had reason to. For example, according to a recent Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) survey, the number of men who seek treatment for mental health issues is significantly lower than the number of women with the same mental health concerns.
Why is this?
From a young age, men are taught rigid masculinity – that is to be strong and to keep their emotions in check. This often leads to many men feeling isolated, anxious, and depressed. The very emotions they should seek help for, they stuff down and “go it alone.” Bearing their emotional pain seems a better idea than opening themselves up to the stigma of seeking therapy.
What are some of those most common mental health issues plaguing men?
- Economic factors – many men tie their worth or value to being the breadwinner and can fall prone to over-working or becoming depressed if they are not meeting this expectation.
- Relationship issues – Believe it or not, studies have shown that men rely more on their partners for emotional support than women do. This can make relationship problems particularly hard to deal with.
- Challenges related to fatherhood – While it can be a great source of joy, fatherhood can also cause stress and anxiety, particularly for new fathers.
- Life transition issues: career changes, having children, empty nest, retirement, etc.
- Being able to express emotion in an appropriate, healthy way – anger, irritability, outbursts, shutting down.
- Sexuality issues – Low Desire, Hyper Desire, Erectile Dysfunction, Premature Ejaculation, Delayed Ejaculation
- Escapism or numbing through a variety of ways
- Unresolved trauma and PTSD
There is no denying that mental health issues manifest differently in men than in women, resulting in many going completely ignored and untreated. Often men minimize or don’t recognize their own emotional pain. This results in them bottling up their emotions, which often leads to a manifestation of a physical disease or illness, such as high blood pressure or heart disease.
If you or someone you love is struggling with mental health issues and would like to explore treatment options, please fill out the Request an Appointment form. There is no stigma in seeking help, only relief from the burdens you are currently carrying alone.