Mental health problems aren’t things that men tend to keep to themselves anymore, which is a huge shift in behavior from where things have always seemed to be. Back in the day, it was rare for guys to speak up and talk about their problems, always being taught to internalize them and overcome them on their own.
Truth is, though, that that thought process isn’t the norm, with mental health problems now impacting men nearly as much (if not more) than they do women. Just because a guy is groomed to be strong and dominant and well-balanced, doesn’t mean that it’s always the case — especially when a bunch of factors like relationship doubt, job pressure and physical attractiveness on guys’ minds as much as girls’.
While these comparison issues and self-doubt seem to be present in men even more, we breakdown some of the more common mental health issues guys face, with tips on how to prevent them from turning into something more serious.
Social anxiety
There’s a big difference between being shy and having social anxiety, so it’s important to understand what both means. Being shy means having timidness while meeting people, eventually breaking down that barrier as a person gets more comfortable during conversation. However, social anxiety is that behavior times 100, with a person actually loathing meeting a new person for fear of acceptance. To be blunt, social anxiety can be a debilitating mindset that puts an emotional strain on a person, and overcoming it requires either antidepressants and/or talking with a therapist.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
We all have our weird ticks and ways to soothe our minds, but one of the most common mental health problems that men experience is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which is an anxiety disorder that can consume a person’s mind. For instance, laying down to go to bed, and tossing and turning wondering what tomorrow’s work day has in store, or if you remembered to close the window to your apartment. OCD creates a pattern of uncertainty, causing behaviors that lead to self-assurance over and over. Like others on this list, OCD can be treated with antidepressants and by talking to a therapist to allow those thoughts to vanish.
Bipolar disorder
Although it’s hard to identify someone as having bipolar disorder, since symptoms can be difficult to recognize at first, when a guy sees drastic changes in mood, energy levels and overall productivity, it may be a sign that the chronic mental health problem is present. A huge warning sign may be drastic differences in behavior, exhibiting erratic behaviors that could, ultimately, lead to substance abuse to cope with the problems. This is the biggest concern for those with bipolar disorder. While there’s no cure for the mental health problem, treating such behaviors consist of antidepressants, therapy, education on how to deal with episodes and sleep medications or mood stabilizers.