Men often face issues differently than women do. They have different symptoms than women for the same underlying problem and feel differently about seeking help.

Every man is different of course. It does help, however, for you to be aware of some generalities of issues men face.

Men often find it hard to talk about feelings. When we feel emotional pain and hurt, we may hide our feelings behind anger or irritability. We often use work, sex, or drugs, to numb ourselves and protect us from having to deal with what’s causing us pain.

Frequently, it’s difficult to see what the underlying problem is for men. For example, men may express depression by becoming angry, irritable, and feeling isolated. It’s often the case that men cover up sadness with anger while women cover up anger with sadness.

We are taught that being a man means you should be able to stand on your own two feet, and to ask for help is an admission of weakness, a betrayal of masculinity. And even when we do realize we have a problem, we often view asking for help as a weakness, a betrayal of our male identities. In reality, to have the courage to get help when you need it is a sign of strength because you are doing what you need to do to take care of yourself. You are being responsible to yourself, the people you work with, and the people you love.

Some of the issues with which I work on with men are:

• Persistent feelings of anger, depression or anxiety
• Poor self esteem
• Relationships
• Divorce issues
• Difficult decisions or career changes
• Issues around violence, risk taking, or addiction
• Recovery from a past trauma or abuse
• Questions about sexuality and masculinity
• Learning ways to relate better and become more connected

For more information, please call Richard Gleiner at (773) 281-9500

Chicago Therapist