Dealing with Manxiety: Let’s talk it out, bros.
The other day, I shared an article that touched on my ongoing issues with anxiety. The reaction was very positive. So, thanks for reading & responding, & in some cases sharing with folks that you thought might benefit from it.
In several instances, friends told me they had shared or were going to share with brothers or boyfriends or male friends, & highlighted in particular the stigma around guys & their inability — or refusal, rather — to talk about anxiety. “Guys don’t talk about this stuff enough,” said one friend. “Sounds stereotypical, but the stigma is so real.”
FUCK stigma.
All that not talking about anxiety does is create more anxiety. Believe me. You know what’s really real? That rabbit hole.
When I emailed the aforementioned article to my grandmother, one of the things she said to me was this: “The two things I learned (the hard way) after Hal died were that 1. the cure for anxiety is action, 2. the cure for depression is physical activity. Make the phone call you don’t want to make, write the note you don’t want to send, get off your duff and take a walk or run or go to the gym, release those endorphins.”
Note: 1. Hal is my grandfather, who I talk about in the article I keep referring back to. 2. My grandmother is a wise woman — more to come in future articles. 3. If you’re lucky enough to have a grandmother or grandfather, give her / him / them a call… soon!
The only way to climb out of the rabbit hole is to take the action of climbing out of it. You’re not going to do it by sitting around thinking about climbing out.
So, while I obviously have targeted this article to the fellas, this message goes out to everybody: talk it out.
I plan on writing a couple more articles on the subject — specifically around the sources of & ways I’ved coped with anxiety & depression. For those who have already reached out & shared their stories, thank you. I invite more of it.
