Sadly, history has seen society teaching men to hide their emotions, forcing them to “be a man” and pushed the narrative of toughing it out. “Don’t let them see your struggle and/or pain”, they say. Whether or not you agree with this history the reality is that this has led to many men experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). If you think that’s shocking, it’s actually more common in men than we dare to think; especially for those who have experienced profound events that have left life-changing results in their lives.

There are a variety of situations that can result in PTSD in men. Such situations may include the absence of parental figures, abuse, the loss of a loved one, or accidents - literally anything which may foster emotional trauma. These events can change a man’s outlook on life and their response to the environment around them and those in it. PTSD in men often appears as aggressive and defensive displays of behavior or reactions, difficulty sleeping, frequent nightmares, depression, and distrustfulness which often relays as difficulty with operating in relationships. Additionally, many men also experience panic attacks. PTSD can spill over into suicidal thoughts and attempts or even the harming of others.

It is important to note that what may not be profound for you may be extremely intense for someone else and vice-versa.

To cope, many men resort to the consumption of alcohol and other narcotics, which may offer some amount of relief but oftentimes worsens the situation.

I carry a serious personal vengeance in my heart for this fellow called PTSD. Because of that fucker, a crucial piece of my life has been missing for years. It’s sad to say but I think my father has been dealing with it for well over 20 something years and its after-effects are more than heartbreaking. When I look at it from that angle, not only does PTSD hurt the person but it hurts their loved ones if not properly treated or taken care of. I stress this because there are not a lot of resources dedicated to the mental health fight specifically for men.

…MEN DO NOT CRY RIGHT?! I felt the tears welling up.

Shut the fuck up!! Bawl if you want to bawl! Depression isn’t worth it. Reliving traumatic experiences aren’t worth it.

Considering all these symptoms of mental health issues, policymakers and mental health professionals should ensure that are men receiving appropriate care and support are feeling confident or comfortable in seeking support or not. They need to talk about men's mental health more openly. We experience that awkward sensation called emotions just as every other human on this earth does. And as sad as it is to say, we should be blamed as well. We’ve permitted our society to dictate who we should be for so long that we’ve lost the true essence of who we are by hiding it in the box with the rest of our emotions. Drowning it out with silence and scolding it when it makes itself present.

I have a challenge for you this upcoming month. No! A dare! I dare you to allow yourself to FEEL all of APRIL. I know it seems much harder than it sounds but you won’t regret it. Leaving issues unresolved and on the back burner does a lot more harm than good. Allow yourself to confront your trauma and if needed, speak to someone about it. Preferably a mental health practitioner so you can fully delve into the issues in your life without fear of holding back. Then and only then will you be able to pull what is planted from the roots and discard it, or build yourself to a place where it does not affect you anymore.

Suffering from mental illnesses in silence is never a good option and should never be one. If you’re reading this and you yourself or a friend or family member has recently suffered from a traumatic occurrence and is expressing symptoms such as the ones listed above, offer them support and as much as you possibly can. Sometimes a listening ear is all it takes, but most importantly, be patient.