OLD MAN'S CORNER. E.L. Winston

THE OLD MAN'S CORNER

As a child I had some mental health challenges and my teacher suggested that I see a therapist. After my first session, my parents had to go in and speak with her. My dad cussed the lady out and my mother yelled and screamed at my dad. His solution: I wasn't going back and we didn't handle our issues talking to Quacks. In that moment, I learned two things: 1. I couldn't share how I felt because it caused problems and 2. Quacks were for other people. The myths say, men don't express themselves; we don't need shrinks, and on and on. These especially apply to men of color. So much foolishness I heard most of my life, but the truth is real men do seek help for their mental health. The lessons that I have acquired later in my life are some things that I know would have been blessings to me when I was younger. The ability to express feelings in a safe space was far and few between when I was growing up and I spent a lot of time unwell because of it.

Who was the creator of these myths that keep men in an emotional lockbox? Those are the foolish things that we must abolish from our thinking and our behavior.

Here I am now on this happy, whole journey of life. I'm trying to eat well and be more physically active. I’m journaling more and trying to be more in tune with myself, so I know when I need to tune up my mental wellness. Oftentimes we don't think about how our mental space can mentally/emotionally affect our loved ones. I have to stop and recognize that my not so good headspace has me running around stressing my wife and getting on the kids’ nerves. That is not the way of a grown and responsible man. If you find yourself wanting to stay in bed all the time never want to do the activities you use to enjoy or start to have self harming thoughts or thoughts about harming others, find yourself angry or withdrawn from people, do an old man a favor and seek a therapist If you need to talk to someone right this minute . Trans LifeLine (877) 565-8860 or call or text 988 Suicide and Crisis LifeLine