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Men, It’s Healthy to Ask For Help
“Be a man.”
“Toughen up.”
“Real men don’t cry.”
Have you ever heard any of these insensitive, outdated clichés? Maybe someone has said them to you, or perhaps you’ve spoken similar words to another man in your life.
In our experience at the Compass Center in Sioux Falls, we’ve seen that men tend to suppress their emotions more than women do. This may be passed down from generations of men before us who have been told repeatedly to be “strong,” or from the messages we hear from culture and social media about what it means to be masculine.
But, men, what if you rewrote this story in your life? What if instead, you decided that being strong means being vulnerable?
Not Asking For Help Makes Things Worse
It’s no secret that unaddressed health problems worsen if not treated. This includes your emotional and mental health, and problems related to addiction, unhealthy relationships, and trauma.1
So when you, as a man, choose not to ask for help because you feel shame, this can actually lead to an increase in self-destructive behaviors.2
It is healthy, important, and strong to express vulnerability in asking for help — even as a man! Men, you are not superheroes; you are human. All humans can face trauma of all kinds, and that’s why we offer our counseling and support services to everyone.
What’s It Mean To Ask For Help?
Contrary to what many believe about asking for help to be a sign of weakness in men, our team of experts in Sioux Falls knows otherwise. We believe that asking for help means:
- You believe your physical, mental, and emotional health is important.
- You are confident enough to admit a problem and seek help.
- You are strong enough to face and work through your emotions and negative experiences.
- You care about your loved ones who your trauma also affects.
- You want to help change the negative stereotypes surrounding male vulnerability.
That’s certainly not weakness. That’s strength.
Trauma and Abuse Happens to Men, Too
Women are not the only victims of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse and trauma. In fact, we help many men right here in South Dakota.
But, we want to help even more males.
At the Compass Center, we are committed to ending the cycle of violence in families — including affected children, women, and men. We offer support groups for male and female survivors of trauma to share experiences and learn healthy coping skills.
Additionally, we also strive to educate Sioux Falls and the surrounding area about the realities of sexual and domestic violence in all genders.
If you are a man who is struggling with any sort of abuse, violence, or trauma, you are not alone. Please know that, and know that asking for help is an incredibly strong thing to do.
We Need Male Volunteers!
We’re so grateful for our volunteers and the ways in which they serve our community.
Perhaps you’re not a man in a difficult situation, but would like to help other men who are facing tough circumstances. Consider joining a Compass Center volunteer team!
We have various needs for volunteers, no matter what your skill set is. Know that as a man, you can make an extremely positive difference in the lives of other men. We need each other to be strong!