The Silent Crisis Among Men
Men may struggle with internal validation. However, because our society reinforces the suppression of emotion and compartmentalization, men may be less likely to talk about it. This can lead to a silent crisis among men.
Suppression and compartmentalization in response to invalidation specifically can lead to a mind-body disconnect. This is especially true for first responders, military personnel, doctors, other medical professionals, or other higher achievers. As this mind-body disconnect gap widens, men may notice numbness in their lives, crumbling relationships with those they care about, and internal turmoil. Thus, decreasing the quality of their lives.
Why Men Struggle with Needing Validation
Men may struggle with needing validation for many different reasons. One may be because of societal standards and how being seen asking for help can look. Another reason may be that early childhood trauma experiences influenced his inner sense of worth. It could also be related to not growing up with validating parents, and he doesn’t know what he’s missing out on. There are many reasons why a man may struggle with validation in his life and experiences. Individual therapy can help address and heal this.
The Link Between Emotional Neglect and Mental Health Challenges
Internal validation can help create a buffer when adversity arises in a man’s life. As this buffer wears down or even if it’s nonexistent, a man may experience increases in stress, critical thoughts towards himself, judgment, and self-doubt. This can exacerbate or create anxiety or depression symptoms, or even compulsive tendencies in a man’s life.
Recognizing the Signs: When Men Are Not Okay
Every man is going to display different signs that they are not receiving the validation they need. This can shift abruptly if something externally was providing validation and is no longer there. It is more important that we raise our awareness level around the idea that men need validation in their lives and not just assume that they’re okay because they don’t talk about it.
Reclaiming Mental Health Through Emotional Awareness
Altogether, by increasing our ability to support men and provide validation, we can also improve men’s mental well-being and their quality of life. This doesn’t mean that we validate every little thing that they do. However, it does mean that we notice and support men, especially if we notice changes in their day-to-day behavior, moods, and functioning.
External validation is one piece of this equation. Developing the internal validation is the other piece. Many different life experiences can rip apart a man’s ability to internally validate himself. This is where individual therapy comes in. Individual therapy can be a place where you foster the ability to self-validate while also improving self-worth and confidence. We’ll start to close that mind-body disconnect that causes so many challenges in your life.
Validation Is Strength, Not Weakness
Being able to self-validate means you are increasing your ability to tolerate distress and overcome adversity. By working with an individual therapist in Kenosha, you’re not showing weakness. You’re showing courage and strength to face the challenges in your life. Furthermore, you’re modeling to others around you that it’s okay to ask for help, you’re resilient, and you hold a sense of grit that cannot be broken.
At Revitalize Mental Health, I am currently accepting new clients at the office in Kenosha, Wisconsin. I offer virtual therapy sessions throughout the weekday evenings as well as on the weekends. Virtual therapy works best for those who live throughout the State of Wisconsin. In-person therapy sessions are held on the weekends and work best for those who live near Pleasant Prairie, Somers, Racine, Union Grove, Burlington, and Oak Creek, Wisconsin.
If you would like to learn more about how individual therapy can help you, call 720.295.6703 or submit an online form by following this link here. I look forward to hearing from you!
By: Daniel Gospodarek, LCSW
