I’m a big fan of the Showtime series “Ray Donovan” and in this year’s episodes Ray (Liev Schreiber) is being treated by a psychiatrist who is played by Alan Alda.

At times it reminds me a bit of when Tony Soprano used to visit with Dr. Melfi because the main character is supposed to be a tough guy who would never seek therapy.  Ironically that’s not far from the truth because men in general are hesitant to seek help. The words “mental health” are ones we tend to avoid at all costs.

This struck me when I came across a story in a recent issue of Men’s Health which was titled, “30 Excuses For Why Guys Don’t Do Therapy…and why they’re all BS.”  Here are some of them:

  • There’s nothing wrong with me.
  • Okay, fine. Maybe something’s kind of broken.  But therapy can’t fix me.
  • I can’t do therapy…I’m the guy who is supposed to have my act together.
  • Going to therapy means I’m weak.
  • They’re going to sit there and judge me. I’m not paying for that.
  • I have a spouse/partner for that.
  • I have CBD for that plus I have vodka for that.
  • I went, but the therapist just sat there and didn’t say anything.
  • I don’t want to complain.
  • Once you start therapy, you’re never done.
  • I don’t even know where to start.
  • I don’t want to take pills.
  • I tried, but finding a therapist is impossible.
  • What if my employer finds out? What if my friends mind out? What if my spouse finds out and thinks it’s about them?
  • Therapy is a rich person thing.
  • Therapy is a young person thing.
  • I don’t have time to go sit somewhere and talk about my problems.
  • The only thing worse than going to therapy is hanging out in the therapist’s waiting room.
  • I have so many other day-to-day hassles in my life that need my immediate attention; therapy doesn’t make the cut.
  • Face it. I’ll just say it. I’m scared.

We’re often depressed and we don’t share it…we are also three times more likely to commit suicide than women.  We need to treat mental health just like we do our overall health and that may require a check-up with a therapist.

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