Why do guys -- but women as well - often tough it out in silence instead of reaching out for a hand? Well, there are a bunch of reasons, and it's not always easy to admit. 

But here's the deal. Many of us were raised in an era when neglect was the default parenting style. Our coaches thought nothing about yelling at us to “suck it up.”

Most guys won’t ask for help due to: 

1. Old-School Expectations: You know how we're supposed to be the strong, silent type? Yeah, that's a lot of pressure. We're told to suck it up, which can make opening up feel like a sign of weakness.
2. Mental Health Stigma: Society still doesn't fully get mental health. Some folks might look at us funny if we say we're struggling. They might call us 'soft' or 'not man enough.'
3. Fear of Judgment: No guy wants to be judged by his buddies, family, or coworkers. It's tough to share your feelings when you're worried about what others will think.
4. Lone Ranger Mentality: We're raised to be self-reliant, problem solvers. It's kinda hardwired into us to think we can handle it all on our own.
5. Emotional Lingo: Let's face it, not all of us are fluent in the language of emotions. It can be hard to express what we're feeling and why.
6. Loss Anxiety: Admitting we're not okay might feel like risking everything – our jobs, relationships, or even our manhood.
7. Lack of Role Models: We don't always see guys talking openly about their mental health. It's like this unspoken rule that we should keep it to ourselves.
8. Cultural Factors: Some backgrounds put extra pressure on being tough and not showing weakness.
9. Not Knowing Where to Turn: Sometimes, we just don't know where to find help or how to ask for it.
10. Past Bad Experiences: If we've tried to open up before and got shut down, we might be hesitant to try again.

But here's the deal. We’re only hurting ourselves. We’re not loving our life experience. Many of us don’t have close friends. We either can’t find a partner or have trouble connecting with the one we do have. 

When tragedy strikes - death, diagnosis, divorce - then we’re REALLY lost and alone. Sadly, this can lead us into a spiral of despair - drinking too much, overworking, even suicide. 

Life Coaching for Men 

The way out is to reach out for help. As Resilience Coaches, we work with people just like you to build the mental fitness strength to become radically resilient. This is NOT therapy. Mental fitness is like doing push-ups for your brain, making it easier for you to find the gift in adversity. 

Check out our Thrivers programs - Thriving Men, Thriving Women, Thriving Leaders (co-ed group)- or even our Private Life Coaching programs. The first call is free and comes with no obligation.