The article highlights the critical connection between trauma and mental health symptoms across genders, emphasizing that men often feel overlooked in discussions around mental health. Many men, like Jason, struggle to find therapists who understand their specific needs, often leading to misdiagnosis and inadequate support. Societal pressures surrounding masculinity cause men to resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as substance use. Experts like psychologist Charles Schaeffer call for better education within the mental health field to address these issues and improve care for men.
Jason has been one of my longest clients. He has struggled with anxiety for most of his life, but struggled to find a provider whom he felt comfortable with. "I wanted a male therapist, honestly," he said during our first meeting, "but I couldn't find one who understood me or one I felt comfortable being vulnerable with. Many therapists didn't seem to understand how my anxiety was manifesting, instead telling me I had anger problems." He shared that many therapists did not seem to understand him.
It was like this cycle of feeling misunderstood... Trauma affects mental health across genders, but is often overlooked in men. There is a strong link between trauma and the development of mental health symptoms.
Charles Schaeffer, psychologist and author of When Panic Happens, agrees that the mental health field needs more education to better support men's issues. Licensed professional therapists are not required to have clinical trauma training, which can lead to a lack of understanding.
Societal pressures around masculinity lead many men to cope with trauma symptoms through avoidance, substance use as a form of self-medicating, or adopting aggressive or withdrawn behaviors, rather than seeking help.
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