Men Get Sad Too: Rethinking Strength and Mental Health
You’ve probably heard the messages your whole life: Be strong. Don’t cry. Handle it. For many men—and anyone raised with expectations of masculinity—these beliefs become barriers to emotional expression and mental health care. During Movember and Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re here to say: you’re allowed to feel. And getting support isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom.
What We’re Taught About Masculinity Hurts Everyone Cultural norms often teach that strength means silence. That real men don’t struggle. That emotions make you less reliable, less tough, less "manly."
But those ideas:
Make it harder for men to name anxiety, depression, or trauma
Leave people isolated in grief, shame, or anger
Increase suicide risk—especially for men taught not to reach out
The truth? Emotional suppression is not strength. Self-awareness is.
Men’s Mental Health Often Looks Different (But It’s Just as Real) Men may not always say “I’m sad” or “I’m anxious.” Mental health challenges often show up as:
Anger or irritability
Withdrawing from relationships
Difficulty sleeping or focusing
Overworking, substance use, or numbing out
None of that means you’re broken. It means something needs attention.
You Don’t Need to Have the Perfect Words At Sprout Therapy PDX, you don’t need to explain everything perfectly. You don’t need to cry on cue. You just need to show up. Therapy can look like:
Talking through stress, relationships, or identity
Relearning how to name your emotions
Understanding where shame comes from—and what’s underneath it
Creating space to be curious, not perform
Support Looks Good on You You can be strong and tender. Protective and vulnerable. Driven and hurting. Therapy doesn’t take anything away from your identity—it deepens it.
Whether you’re a cis man, trans man, or someone raised in masculinity, your emotional health matters.
Final Thoughts You don’t have to go it alone. You don’t have to have it all together. There is strength in asking for help. There is power in feeling.
Ready to take care of your mental health—on your terms? Sprout Therapy PDX offers identity-affirming, compassionate therapy for men and masculine-aligned folks across Oregon. Reach out today to get started.