centralfloridahealthnews.com
CFHN | 7 
H 
ave you ever heard the phrases “man up,” 
“stay strong,” or “don’t let them see you 
cry”?
May is the month we recognize mental 
health, which most of the time we over-
look in the conversation surrounding men-
tal health within the emotional well-being of 
men. Awareness has grown in many areas; 
generations of men were often taught to 
suppress emotion rather than process it. The 
messages that have been deeply ingrained in 
the mind of the man can either be positive 
or negative, shaping who they become and 
how they learn to navigate life.
For many, emotional silence became a sur-
vival strategy. Young boys were taught to 
work hard, provide for, and protect. And let’s 
not forget to persevere and stand strong. 
Yet few were taught how to openly process 
their emotions, such as grief, fear, or disap-
pointment. So, when stress enters their world 
from work, relationships, or parenting, the 
ability to navigate emotional pain in healthy 
ways is unclear. Because men don’t know 
how to experience emotion, and many don’t 
ever feel they have been given permission to 
express it.
What remains unspoken emotionally finds 
its way to the surface, pushing through the 
seams of mental, physical, or relational is-
sues.
In counseling, emotional suppression fre-
quently reveals itself through areas of chron-
ic stress, irritability, anger, numbness or indif-
ference, anxiety, and exhaustion. Even to the 
point where sleep is disturbed, and physical 
health begins to show concerns. Some men 
may experience a sense of disconnection 
from themselves and others without fully 
realizing it. Disconnection happens in the 
silence. Others may remain in constant sur-
vival mode, carrying internal pressure while 
seemingly functioning externally.
A man’s appearance and posture convey re-
sponsibility and productivity, someone who 
is dependable and strong. Internally, howev-
er, many are overwhelmed, emotionally ex-
hausted, and find themselves isolated.
The body often carries what the mind tries 
to silence.
Chronic emotional stress does not simply 
disappear because it goes unspoken. The 
nervous system absorbs it. Relationships will 
feel it, and families will experience the void. 
Emotional disconnection can create dis-
tance within romantic relationships, friend-
ships, and parenting, even to the point of 
challenging one’s sense of identity. Many 
men will struggle silently, believing that they 
must carry the weight of all these responsi-
bilities alone.
Unfortunately, these patterns are often gen-
erational. Some men grew up watching fa-
thers or grandfathers who rarely expressed 
their vulnerability. And then previous gener-
ations often carried immense responsibilities 
while lacking emotional support, not able to 
bear the emotional language that would cre-
ate safe spaces for loved ones. This would 
mean that emotional suppression became 
an inherited behavior rather than an inten-
tional act of harm. We do not know what we 
do not know. And we portray behavior that’s 
been modeled for us generation after gen-
eration.
Here’s the good news: Cycles can change. A 
healthier generation that becomes emotion-
ally aware will no longer view the expression 
of emotion as a weakness. True strength is 
not the absence of emotion, it is the willing-
ness to face it honestly. Emotional health and 
resilience are not opposites.
Courage is the ability to seek support, main-
tain self-awareness, and develop healthy 
communication.
The men in our lives deserve spaces where 
they can speak freely without shame, judg-
ment, or the fear of appearing weak. Mental 
health conversations must continue to move 
beyond the generational stereotypes of what 
a man is supposed to be, and create a space 
for honesty, healing, and connection.
Healing happens through awareness and 
healthy relationships. It also happens through 
learning to identify emotions rather than sup-
pressing them. 
Recognizing the deep connection between 
mental, physical, and emotional health will 
Aligning the body, mind, and spirit sets bal-
ance in the present, forges the way for the 
past to heal, and brings hope for the future. 
HN
BODY, MIND & SPIRIT
Breaking the Silence 
Men Inherited
by JENNIFER GOODSON, MA, LMHC
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jennifer Goodson, MA, LMHC, is a licensed mental health counselor at Pathway Counseling Services in Winter Haven, Fla. She is a professor of Psychology at Warner University and a TEDx and 
keynote speaker. She earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Regent University. Learn more at www.jennifergoodson.com.

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