Facing Therapy
- Pat Williams-Henry
- Jan 22, 2023
- 1 min read
Updated: Mar 1, 2024
For Men
Men may struggle to verbalize their feelings or share them with others, coupled with the ingrained belief that they should “man up” and deal with it themselves. Seeking help may be viewed as a “weakness,” leading men to be hesitant about seeking psychiatric help.
Statistically, men do not typically seek therapy in high numbers. When they do the generally report the same types of concerns that might lead anyone to seek therapy such as depression, stress, anxiety, and relationship concerns.
For Black People
African Americans are far more likely to silently live with mental illness for fear of being judged. The root of mental health stigma among Black people can be traced back to slavery.
At that time, it was commonly thought enslaved people were not sophisticated enough to develop depression, anxiety, or other mental health disorders.
Trauma can be passed down through genes in a process called intergenerational transmission. Stress can cause changes to reproductive cells, as well as to the uterine environment where a fetus develops.
Most people that don’t seek help share the fear of being thought of as weak or “crazy” for having a psychological disorder. Mental illness is seen—and I should emphasize, incorrectly—as taking away a person’s ability to care for others. Shame and embarrassment force many to struggle in silence and never seek help.
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