Is it ''Un-masculine'' to talk about mental health ?

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There have been times when I beat myself (obviously not physically) for expressing my anxiety and becoming tearful at times because I just felt like the only one feeling like and that every other guy holds it all on and doesn't express it even if they might have Aspergers or Autism. I know a part of me thinks that is not true as there are men out there like sports-people such as footballers and boxers have come forward about their mental health. There are even fictional ''tough guy'' characters who talk about their problems such as Tony Soprano who visits a therapist in some episodes. I still feel there is a stigma with mental health in men and it annoys me that there are probably still people out there who think it NOT masculine for a man to express his feelings no matter how upset or sad he may feel and that he should keep it ''bottled up''.

Social conditioning can you make you feel/act this way. I believe things are getter better though and there is less stigma attached to men expressing their feelings. I see no such stigma on this forum.

No. It's a difficult and shows strength.

I think not running away from emotions show strength regardless of gender. If anything, i think a person is weaker if they bottle up their emotions all the time, since they don't know how to deal with them.

There are times during this time when I wish I wasn't always as anxious as other people, especially when being out work with lots of people around and I am wearing two masks. I even get the impression from others that they look at me and think I've gone over the top wearing two masks and think I am over-anxious. I mean I thought that once when a girl asked me for something and I backed away when she got too close and she did so, not because she wanted to but because I did and then showed me what she was looking for on her phone by extending her arm out. I do get annoyed with myself because of it sometimes because I'm worried that others think I'm a double-masked ''weirdo''.

I kinda beat myself up physically.

There's stigma about some mental health stuff with males, especially sexual abuse, and it's widely spoken about in those treatment circles to make it easier for them to talk about/come forward for treatment, but most stuff is fine nowadays and there's no real stigma. I've seen the toughest men cry in mental hospitals, as I've said elsewhere.

I cry a lot (alone mostly), I have a lot of mental illness stuff, I've been in and out of hospitals a lot and my mum says I'm tough.

Toxic male syndrome? HAH! Try toxic family!

Both sides of the family (most of which are ex-military), have bought into Louis B. Mater’s dictum “Those that see a psychiatrist ought to have their head examined,” then proceeded to heap all sort of abuse.

Why do you think I became a recluse?

Many of the men in the hospitals were military/similar whenever I was there. "Combat" orientated PTSD was often the most common (battlefield or civilian), though that might have been due to the hospitals themselves.

One likely wouldn't see tougher humans around.

I personally think it's more 'masculine' (if having to use this concept) to be candid about mental health issues.

Showing that you're willing to accept any issues within your psyche and work through them.

The majority of people forget to look after their mind, as it needs as much care as everything else about them, often neglected because it's not tangible or visible.

There's also a chance that the people around you are enduring mental health issues themselves, but would rather bury their demons as opposed to face them head on.

It's worrying that people still will ignore physical issues in a similar manner. Whether it's to not show signs of weakness or feel a burden to anybody else.

In some circles, but I'd suggest those circles have poor guidelines regarding masculinity, not that discussing mental health is inherently unmasculine.

Everyone needs to pay attention to their mental health. Especially in this day and age. If you aren't paying attention someone else will co-opt your psyche for their needs while you aren't watching.
And if you're not aware of the stories you're running, then you are their slave. Most of the population lives like that, I fear.

There’s still a stigma, but also tons of change and progress with a lot of men speaking up and making it ever more socially acceptable to discuss mental health.

The corporate world is working on this, too. We have “Bell Let’s Talk,” day that’s coming up in a week or so that’s all about encouraging people to speak up about mental health, seek help, help each other, have open discussions.

Locally, I’m part of a Facebook group that started during the pandemic as a bit of fun and has evolved into a men’s group to help each other out with advice, jobs, groceries when they’re really down and out, substance abuse etc And one of the major things is that they openly encourage discussion of mental health topics so people can speak freely without stigma etc. There are over 10,000 guys in the group. I’m sure there are many more like it around the world, or on different platforms etc that are changing the social acceptance of these sorts of thoughts being expressed and discussed.

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No for supporting trump. Because doing so is deplorable.

There is a stigma against men on a societal level. But in terms of our individual lives, we have the choice on who to surround ourselves with.

It's important to re-evaluate your social circle. Surround yourself with positive open-minded people who have your best interest in mind. Weed out the toxic and immature.

I never feel judged for talking about mental health, because my friends/family are accepting, and the people who aren't, aren't in my circle anymore.