The Guardian’s Post

Why is there such a stigma around men crying out for help? From the smallest things like physical pain and medical issues, to the really big stuff like wanting to throw themselves off a bridge because they just can't bear to wake up to another day of "this". Because there’s a belief system in society that dictates that men don’t know how to ask for help. And this belief system enables mental health issues and suicide. I’ve recently been involved in a debate where a practitioner on Instagram was “blaming” the women for shutting the men down. Encouraging the women to get their men to open up. Asking them to drag their men to therapy and forcing them to talk. To not give up on them. I believe that all people have the ability to ask for help. Men and women. I also believe that we are enabling this belief system that “men don’t ask for help”, feeding the issue further and further. Who is telling men to be quiet, to suppress their emotions, to toughen up, telling them they’re weak if they do so? Is it the male hierarchy that’s teaching them that? It is a belief system, thrown up through generations of men. Is it the men stopping each other? Is it the men stopping themselves? Is it a myth (because they talk to me all day every day)? It’s a macho, collective belief system that men are using as a personal excuse to escape their pain. There are lots of men’s groups and men’s retreats out there now, rights of passage, helping men heal on a deep level. “Menswork” is amazing! But to use the excuse that you had no role models or rights of passage as a man growing up, that your masculine was confused and no one showed you what to do, that you don’t know how to ask for help, that there’s nowhere to go, that there’s nothing you can do...is a load of crap. No woman has this right of passage either. None of us do. We are all shot out of a cannon, into this crazy world, and asked to find our own way without a manual! So find your way. Find your purpose and meaning. Ask yourself why you won’t do the work. There’s no excuse. #askforhelp #menshealth #mentalhealth

2023 Therapy Reflections 👇🏽 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽, 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀, 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁. In 2024, I’m… 🙏🏽 Imagining a world where people are seen as equals and both utilize their differences to make each other stronger. 🙏🏽 Imagining a world where there’s no need to prove superiority, establish authority, or exert control. 🙏🏽 Imagining a world where both partners nurture each other without the fear of being seen as weak and where both use their strengths to pull each other up. 🙏🏽 Imagining what relationships would look like if they could just be, without the trauma of asserting some sort of imaginary status or power. 🙏🏽 Imagining women’s comfort in meeting their needs naturally. 🙏🏽 Imagining men’s authentic vulnerability without shame. 🙏🏽 Imagining women setting limits without feeling selfish or scared. 🙏🏽 Imagining men leaning into authentic love and not pressured or coerced connection. 🙏🏽 Hoping for a world where women feel safe and free and men release the weight of people’s expectations of who they should be. #Reflections #NewYear #heal #TraumaHealing #Wellbeing #MentalWellbeing #MentalHealthSupport #MentalWellness #onlinetherapy #Stress #Anxiety #Depression #Trauma #Relationships #men #women #vulnerability #love #boundaries #needs #connection #safe #safespace #expectations #Family #Therapy #Counseling #MentalHealthMatters #BreakTheStigma #MentalHealth

Today, on International Women's Day, let's honor the strength, resilience, and achievements of women worldwide. 💪🚺 It's crucial to recognise that mental health impacts everyone, and statistics show that women often face unique challenges in this area. Let's break the stigma and support each other's mental well-being every day. Together, we can create a world where every woman feels empowered, valued, and mentally healthy. 💖 #InternationalWomensDay #BreakTheStigma #MentalHealthAwareness

Happy International Women’s Day! Today, we honor the strength and resilience of women worldwide. Did you know that women are more likely to seek therapy and support for mental health concerns, with research showing they are 40% more likely than men to do so? Yet, women continue to face unique challenges, including higher rates of depression and anxiety. This year’s theme, #InspireInclusion, reminds us of the importance of supporting and uplifting all women, regardless of background or circumstance. Let’s continue to break barriers and prioritize mental well-being for all. 💪💖 #InternationalWomensDay #InspireInclusion #BreakTheStigma #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #StayConnected #CopingSkills #SupportSystem #HealthyMind #EmotionalWellness

Mental wellness, esteem, and confidence can all be boosted when we learn more about those who have positively impacted us. This International Women's Day, dig deep to discover the who, what, when, where, how, and why in a woman who inspires you to be your best self. Ascent Counseling and Wellness @ascentcounselw acwatl.com

Happy International Women's Day! 🌼 Today, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and beauty of women everywhere. To all the amazing women out there - your courage inspires us, your wisdom guides us, and your love uplifts us. Here's to embracing our vulnerabilities, celebrating our victories, and supporting each other's mental health journey. Together, we are unstoppable. #InternationalWomensDay #MentalHealthMatters #preventativementalhealth #mentalhealthtips #veteranwoman #veteranownedbusiness #Burnoutcoach #Burnoutprevention #Stoptheburnout #mentalhealthawareness #Findyourbalance #DrKimberlyV #FLOModel #balancingactlms #theresetmovement #startthereset

As we celebrate Women's History Month, it's essential to recognize the profound importance of mental health within the context of women's lives. 💪 Throughout history, women have faced unique challenges that have often gone unacknowledged, including societal expectations, gender-based discrimination, and unequal access to resources. Now more than ever, we must prioritize women's mental health and well-being. 🧠 🌷 💞 Read more about how Empowered Women Empower Women and how YOU can contribute to breaking the stigma surrounding women's mental health in this week's blog. 🗣 👉 #linkinbio 🔗 #mentalhealth #blog #endthestigma #womenshistorymonth #womensupportingwomen #empoweredwomenempowerwomen #mentalhealthmatters #mentalwellness #mentalwellbeing #wellness #challengethestigma #mentalhealthstigma #selflove #selfcare #therapy #therapist #selfhelp #selflove #occ #oldcitycounseling #counseling #oldcityphiladelphia #oldcityphilly

wow, you talk about women's rights and not coming in the way of their aspirations and some reels later you bring in a dancer whose moves (and lyrics) leave not the slightest doubt about what you think women are for. wow, you bring in a werewolf just like that with not the slightest augury that he will come into the story - i mean we are to be satisfied that just because these guys produced another film starring the said werewolf they have the license to dump him in a completely different story and cover it up by saying "so and so universe". The Maddening cock and bull explanation is even bought by the media for four starred reviews. Wow, has anybody visited a mental health institution? No body screams there in unison. Everyone 'behaves' because they are scared stiff (mostly) of the wardens and ward-boys and ward-women. And for this scene you bring in an ageing star to squeeze out the pathetic humor and what is more, end the movie with this same ageing star getting all fired up. To make fools of the masses one more time in part 3 or is it 4? What left me most disappointed was the chuckles and laughter all around erupting every few minutes for the asinine humor--how easily we laugh at such cliched humor - about piss, about making love, about mental illness! There was even a solid two minute confusion between four characters on what exactly 'chitti" means. Despite the box office cash registers ringing, said movie is a good illustration of how you can mess up a promising concept of a beautiful ghost versus evil in a rural setting. (Wow, if only the evil was scary--sorry, scratch that, it offered some cheap humor for under 12.)

𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 🧠♀️ The first of it's kind, our 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 women's mental health group provides a safe and supportive space for women to openly discuss their experiences, challenges, and triumphs 🚺 Find out more 👇 🔗 bit.ly/49AAsAt | #WorldSuicidePreventionDay

Navigating the complexities of modern life can be overwhelming, especially for women. With ever-changing roles and societal expectations, women's mental health can suffer. Join us tomorrow as we explore the multifaceted world of modern womanhood, discussing the unique stressors we face and empowering strategies for mental well-being. To the modern woman, YOU ARE SEEN, and you're not alone!"