{"id":2996,"date":"2020-02-27T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-27T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.creativesolutionsonline.org\/?p=2996"},"modified":"2020-10-17T13:56:19","modified_gmt":"2020-10-17T18:56:19","slug":"men-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.creativesolutionsonline.org\/rebuild-csbh-sit\/men-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Men & Mental Health: Why Seeking Help is Hard"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Men<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Mental health problems impact everyone \u2013 men and women. Unfortunately, there are so many stigmas surrounding mental health issues, and many of them cause men to avoid getting the treatment they need. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

According to the CDC<\/a>, the rate of depression among men is roughly 5-6%. This means that millions of men in the U.S. alone are dealing with depression. Men also have a higher suicide rate than women. In addition, about three times as many men as women have problems with alcohol abuse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, why are men so hesitant to seek out help for mental health problems? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Stigma and Stereotypes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There really isn\u2019t one concrete answer as to why men tend to avoid mental health treatment more than women. But, one common theory has a lot to do with ego. Many men still see things like depression and anxiety as a sign of weakness. They don\u2019t want to give in to the idea that they aren\u2019t in control or that they might need help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s pressure on men to go it alone. There is a need for them to be strong. Even if that stereotype seems outdated, it\u2019s still true for a lot of men, and even how some women view the men they\u2019re with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, there are also still stigmas surrounding mental illness. These stigmas cause women to sometimes forego treatment, too. But, it\u2019s even worse for men. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Signs of Mental Health Problems in Men<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Men deal with the same mental health concerns as women. As a result, many of the symptoms are the same. Still, men sometimes experience more physical symptoms, where women tend to experience more emotional symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

For example, if you\u2019re a man struggling with depression,<\/strong> you might be fatigued, have trouble sleeping, or have frequent headaches. These physical symptoms shouldn\u2019t be ignored, but going to your standard physician won\u2019t be enough to treat the underlying mental health problem.  Additionally, you may feel more irritable and dissatisfied rather than sad, so you may not recognize it as a part of depression. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re struggling with anxiety<\/strong>, you might also feel scared or unprepared in certain situations. These and many other mental health problems can quickly start to take over your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding the signs and how they can manifest themselves is important. The more you know about some of the symptoms, the sooner you can choose to seek out help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Should You Ask for Help? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t have to wait for certain signs or signals to get help for mental health issues. If you don\u2019t feel like yourself or if you know something just isn\u2019t right, take the first step toward crushing those stigmas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, if you\u2019re not sure what you\u2019re really struggling with, consider some of the following signs: <\/p>\n\n\n\n