As a man you don’t have to do anything of course it’s easier said than done. Allow me to explain.

You must remember that you are human, and showing emotions doesn’t weaken you. It makes you a living and breathing person. As a woman, I am open with my feelings and emotions, but I don’t feel weak; I feel empowered because I refuse to bottle anything in. For what? So why should you? Just because you’re a man? Doesn’t that sound ridiculous to you? Think about it.

According The National Institute of Health. These are warning signs of men’s mental health declining:

• Aggressiveness, anger, and irritability
• Changes in mood or energy levels
• Changes in appetite or sleeping habits
• Difficulty focusing
• Feeling restless or “on edge”
• A high consumption of alcohol
• Inappropriate use of drugs
• Participating in risky activities
• Feeling sad, hopeless, numb, or emotionally “flat”
• Having aches, pains, or other physical symptoms without a clear cause
• Obsessive or compulsive thoughts or behaviours
• Thinking or acting in a way that causes concern to others or has a negative impact on work, social, or family life
• Thinking about or attempting suicide

Society plays a significant role in men’s mental health, and it’s done more harm than good, but the best thing is that more men are talking about it. Conversations around men’s mental health are crucial, and there’s still a long way to go.

Not talking about your anxiety, depression, loneliness, stress, or suicidal ideation doesn’t make you a real man. It’s a recipe for disaster. You can’t go through life on autopilot because, eventually, you will crash, and that’s unfair on you. Don’t you want to feel seen? Understood? Don’t you want to be held, hugged, told you’re loved and that everything will be okay? You, too as man , deserve that. It’s okay to be the little spoon even if you’re bigger and taller.

So you’ve distracted yourself with excessive work, unsafe sex, drugs, alcohol..now what? You’re simply delaying your healing process; you need to take care of your mental health the way you take care of your physical health. Yes, the gym is excellent, but talk about it; allow yourself to feel sad and emotional. Cry if you need to too.

These things are not easy to admit, it’s uncomfortable, and you may find them cringy, but it’s true.You, too, deserve to have your needs met. If you are not okay, you need to reach out. You can lead a horse to water but can’t force it to drink. As a man, you need to take it upon yourself to look after yourself authentically. It begins with admitting you’re not okay.

Reach out to someone you know cares for or loves you. If not, see a therapist because you matter. Your life matters. You are important, and you a man deserve to feel safe and secure.