In today’s day and age when mental health is in the spotlight than ever before, more and more people are kicking around the idea of seeking out counselling for themselves. Many don’t end up going through with seeking out counselling because of the social stigma that’s often attached to seeking out therapy, especially men.
Studies show that men seek any type of mental health treatment, including counselling, far less than women, but commit suicide far more often. That’s a clear problem stemming from deep-seated ideas of masculinity and mental health stigmas, which are two factors that play a major role in why men don’t seek help for their mental health.
Ultimately, this all comes back to the outdated idea that someone should only seek counselling if they’re considered “crazy” or “damaged” instead of just looking for someone to talk with about their insecurities.
While an APA study found that half of all Americans think the stigma around going to therapy has decreased, men have a long way to go before we’re fully rid of that stigma.
Through hard work and evolved thinking over the past few years, men are starting to come around when it comes to therapy. A recent study found that 42 percent of men aged 18 to 32 think visiting a therapist or counselor is an essential part of overall wellness.
“Men are starting to realize that talking about their feelings can help them live happier, healthier lives,” says Ronald Levant, Ed.D., a cofounder of the Society for the Psychological Study of Men and Masculinity.
Why Should You Start Seeing a Therapist?
There are numerous reasons men might want to seek out a therapist. Let’s go over a few of them now.
The diagnosis rate for mental health conditions like depression, PTSD, ADHD and anxiety disorders have spiked about 33 percent over the past few years in every demographic. Those diagnoses have led to more people seeking out professional help, including men.
Other men with no diagnosis or obvious mental health issues are seeking out therapy. Professionals like Joel Wong, Ph.D., a professor of counselling psychology at Indiana University, says his male clients often visit due to a feeling of stagnation in their lives. “The word I use is ‘stuck,’” Dr. Wong said. “Most of my male clients came to me when they were caught in a rut they couldn’t seem to get out of.”
Others like Dr. Thomas Joiner says that issues like alcohol abuse, anger issues or lack of developed communication skills all lead to men seeking counselling as well. “Do you have a problem that’s affecting your ability to function? Is it costing you jobs? Relationships? It doesn’t matter where it came from. It’s important to get help.”
With studies linking job stress and men with early death, and 65 percent of employees job performance benefiting from therapy sessions, it’s totally understandable why more and more are seeking counselors.
counselling can help out men who might be stressed about their bedroom performance as well. In fact, Swiss studies have shown that Erectile Disfunction (ED) meds are actually more effective when combined with therapy.
As a matter of fact, studies that link anxiety and depression with lack of sex drive only reinforce the point. “Stress has the potential to impact us physically, emotionally, and relationally,” said Rachel Needle, Psy.D., a sex therapist and licensed psychologist at the Center for Marital and Sexual Health of South Florida. “During times of stress, we need to survive, not procreate.”
“Your biggest sex organ is your brain,” Dr. Needle continued. “If you have a ‘busy mind’ and are distracted during sex, it’s going to be harder to focus on your arousal, the pleasurable sensations, or orgasm.”
How Do I Know Now Is The Time To Go To counselling?
When it comes to when exactly is the right time for someone to finally commit to going to therapy, it can be a very individual process. They need to be ready to make those changes themselves and seek out that help.
Once someone is fully aware of their emotional pain and issues, that’s when they can start making those changes. Think about it like a garden. You can go through all the work of tilling the ground, pulling weeds, planting seeds and putting down the best fertilizer you can get, but those flowers aren’t going to sprout before they’re ready.
It’s the same with seeking treatment. Although it can be scary, getting a counselor is a great way to improve your mental and physical health in the long run.
