The Reasons Men Don’t Ask for Help

Every once in a while when I’m getting ready to put together this segment I look back in the archives to see what I was talking about on the same date in the past.

I found it rather interesting that a year ago the topic had to do with men’s reluctance to seek help with anything related to mental health.  I say that because during this pandemic mental health has been talked about quite extensively as COVID-19 has taken its toll on many in that regards.

So for that reason let me again share some of what was in a Men’s Health article titled “30 Excuses For Why Guys Don’t Do Therapy.”

• 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 plus 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 find 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 the 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.

Men are 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.