a client's friend committed suicide. he was in his early 40's.
we talked about how toxic masculinity contributed to his friend's suffering.
decades of don't cry.
don't talk about emotions.
suffer in silence like a man.
he told me his friend's death inspired him to reach out more often to his male friends.
to ask how they are doing.
to share his own experience with therapy.
to encourage them to seek help if they need it.
I commended his willingness to turn his friends' death into something meaningful.
I also shared with him I have male friends who tell me they love me.
and hug me.
and on the most micro of scales, strive to destroy the plague of toxic masculinity.
because that only happens one interaction at a time.
as much as I appreciate anything else, I appreciate my male friends who are comfortable enough to show affection.
and feel their emotions.
and rethink what it means
to be a man.
for information on individual therapy, contact me at bradleyjabel@gmail.com
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