The age of social media has seen the normalization of various aspects of life previously considered taboo. A primary example of this is mental health awareness. Instagram and Twitter are overflowing with examples of females (some with large followings) sharing vulnerable stories about their struggles with depression, anxiety, and more. They openly discuss their journey...Continue reading
Category: Masculinity
Voicing Your Preferences for a Mate—and More
Dear Health Men: You’ve talked about how a man’s height and weight affect how he’s treated, perceived, and how much money he makes. What about the pitch of his voice? A: As superficial as it is, voice pitch makes a big difference, largely because we associate it with something equally superficial: body size—at least according to...Continue reading
Who Stole the Masculine Soul?
I was five years old when my 45-year-old father took an overdose of sleeping pills. According to his journal, which I found many years later, he had become increasingly withdrawn and depressed because he couldn’t make a living to support his family. There are millions of men today who are feeling the same pain. Do...Continue reading
New Year Equals New Opportunities To Stay on Top Of Your Health
You know what they say: New Year equals a new me, right? Well, despite the overwhelming feeling of relief by many that our calendars have flipped from 2020 to 2021, it is absolutely vital to both men and women to make a plan to stay on top of their health. Some could read that last...
Of Masks and Masculinity
Dear Healthy Men: I’ve really had it with COVID and the non-stop pressure to wear a mask. I’m a 35-year old, very fit man and doubt I’m going to get sick. Plus, the things look positively goofy. And anyway, if the President of the United States won’t wear a mask, why should I? A: Whether President...Continue reading
Benefits of Male Hormone Replacement Therapy
Dear Healthy Men: A recent news release suggested that men with low testosterone levels may have improvement in sexual function and quality of life. How can I determine whether I can benefit and what questions should I ask my doctor? A: Before we get into the details of the newly reported benefits of testosterone therapy—including the...Continue reading
The Origin of Human Violence and How to End It
Last night, my wife, Carlin, and I saw the movie Jo Jo Rabbit. It was moving and quirky and reminds me both of the horrors of the totalitarian/Dominator way in the world and our hope for a better future. I’ve recently written two articles on how we can create “the more beautiful world our hearts know...Continue reading
6 Things You Don’t Know About Irritable Male Syndrome That Could Be Wrecking Your Relationship
Like most of the things I write about, Irritable Male Syndrome (IMS) comes from both my personal and professional experience. Professionally, I’ve counseled more than 25,000 individuals and couples who took my IMS quiz and recognized that male anger was a problem in their lives. Personally, IMS nearly destroyed my marriage. Here’s an excerpt from a letter...Continue reading
When It Comes to Stereotypes, Words Matter. A Lot.
A few days ago, I heard a young father telling his son—who was probably around 10 or 11—to “man up.” I started thinking about that phrase and wondered about all the gender stereotyping we do without even realizing it. Are expressions like “man up” harmless parts of or language or do they make a difference?...Continue reading
Beards: The Secret to Success or the Kiss of Death?
Dear Healthy Men: Do women really find men with beards more attractive than clean-shaven guys? A: According to the old story, in 1860, Abraham Lincoln grew a beard in response to a suggestion from an 11-year-old girl who said it would make him a more attractive presidential candidate. She was right. About 140 years later, another...Continue reading