Men’s Mental Health: The Truth About Men and Emotions
I was 28 years old—already enrolled in a graduate program to become a psychotherapist—when I realized something that changed my life.
We were in class going over the diagnostic criteria for anxiety:
Fatigue
Irritability
Restlessness
Sleep disturbance
Difficulty concentrating
And suddenly, it hit me: I had experienced all of these symptoms for years.
I had struggled with anxiety most of my life—and I didn’t even know it.
That moment cracked something open. It wasn’t that I didn’t feel emotions—I just didn’t have the language or permission to talk about them.
And I’m not alone.
Why Men Struggle With Emotional Awareness
In my work with men, this pattern shows up again and again:
Smart, capable, caring guys who are dealing with intense emotions—but can’t quite name them.
Sometimes, it takes weeks of therapy before a man is able to identify even basic feelings like sadness, fear, or guilt. That’s not a flaw—it’s a reflection of how we raise boys in our culture.
From a young age, many men are taught to be strong, stoic, and self-reliant. Emotional vulnerability is often labeled as weakness. But here’s the truth:
Emotional intelligence doesn’t make you soft—it makes you whole.
If we want men to become better partners, fathers, leaders, and friends, we have to start earlier. That means teaching boys to recognize, name, and express what they’re feeling—and reinforcing that it’s not only okay, but healthy.
It’s Never Too Late to Start
If any of this sounds familiar—if you’ve ever felt emotionally overwhelmed but didn’t know how to talk about it—know this:
You’re not broken. You’re not behind.
You’re just missing tools that no one handed you.
Improving your emotional awareness is one of the most life-enhancing things you can do. It will deepen your relationships, improve your communication, and help you feel more grounded in who you are.
And yes—your spouse will notice.
Your kids will benefit.
Your team at work will respect the shift in you.
Support for Men’s Mental Health
Men’s mental health matters—deeply. If you’re ready to begin this work, I’d love to help.
Visit Momentum Collection to learn more about therapy services for men. I offer virtual sessions for clients across California, Oregon, and Texas, and in-person therapy in Fayetteville, GA.
It doesn’t matter where you’re starting from—what matters is that you start.