My Friend Started Therapy Recently And I Couldn't Be More Proud
I was checking up on one of my boys just to see how he was doing a couple days ago. These days we all have things going on and hung out the week before but wanted to check in. He told me he was good and had recently started therapy and it was probably one of the best news I have heard. We underestimate the importance of talking to someone about what we're going through and trying to find perspective. I was also glad to hear it because as a man there is the stigma of having to be strong and having to fight through your problems but that is easier said than done. Everyone goes through it these days and a lot of times not all men can be strong.
We are all human and need time to process what we're going through, and I fully advocate prioritizing your mental health. My barber has stopped cutting hair for about a year now and has taken time to focus on life and his mental health and I couldn't be happier. There are things more important than the job we have, things we own or how much money we have. A battle we must constantly win is the one within our mind. There is no way we can be successful and conquer life without first conquering our mind and our inner demons and that is something we all struggle with. The mind is the foundation of the ins and outs of life, and we can't get anywhere in life if we are not able to first conquer the battle within.
A lot of people in society are struggling day in and out and turn to drugs, alcohol, and other harmful things instead of turning to a psychiatrist or even a therapist. Doing these things doesn't automatically confirm things will be better but I think this is a steppingstone in identifying the problem and trying to figure out the steps to fix it. I read an article on deadspin.com in 2021 that I'll never forget it. The article was written by Julie DiCaro and was titled "America Loves a Dead Celebrity" and the main point of this article was the backlash NFL player Calvin Ridley was getting at that time for stepping away from football to deal with his mental health. It talked about how America is more supportive to people and their mental health once the person is already dead using Anthony Bourdain and Rob Williams as examples.
Calvin had identified that he was going through a challenging time and needed to step away and focus on his mental wellbeing, but the fans and others were more worried about him being selfish and not caring about his teammates and the fan base. This is an example of the stigma against men when it comes to getting help and being seen as weak. I could go on but I fully recommend anyone to read this great article by Julie. I will include it at the end and for anyone going through it, go talk to someone especially as a man. Your wellbeing matters. I am proud of my brother for taking this step and will continue to support him.
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