Dear Mr. Dad: I’m a new dad, and a month or so after our son was born, my wife started acting strangely. Thanks to an article you wrote a while back, I recognized the signs of postpartum depression—she was sleeping more than usual, putting on weight, crying a lot, losing interest in things she loved...Continue reading
Mental illness affects men and women of all ages, but can be especially difficult with men. Depression, for instance, can take the form of anger rather than sadness. Traditional masculine roles also make it harder to admit weakness and seek help. However, there are ways for men to cope with mental problems. Value Success, Not...Continue reading
Most people don’t know I’m bipolar. After years of loving kindness shown to me by my wife, therapy with a caring and skilled therapist, and medications to help keep me in balance, my illness is in remission. Even if you had known me when I was the most out-of-control and crazy you probably wouldn’t have...Continue reading
Most people don’t think too much about daylight savings time. Sure, when it kicks in (usually in March), we grouse about losing an hour of precious sleep. But within a day or two, life goes back to normal. And when it ends (usually in November), we love the extra hour of sleep. But after a...Continue reading
I recently read an article, “Why Bruce Springsteen’s Depression Revelation Matters” and it reminded me how important it is for well-known people to talk about their own mental illness and mental health. In Springsteen’s recently released book, Born to Run, the rock legend talks about his long history of depression and how he has dealt...Continue reading
In an interview with Anna Kendrick, Stephen Colbert joked, you ask a guy when the last time he saw his best friend and his answer is two and a half years ago. Cue the laughs at the distinction often made between male and female friendships, but the reality isn’t as funny. The disturbing truth is...Continue reading
Gendered expectations in marriage are not just bad for women, they are also bad for men, according to a new study by University of Connecticut (UConn) sociologists. Using data on the same nationally representative group of married men and women over 15 years, the authors examined the relationship between men’s and women’s relative income contributions...Continue reading
It was in fifth grade when I first read a handful of James Thurber’s “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.” My teacher, Mrs. Dalton, used Thurber as an example of descriptive writing, what she referred to as “Show, not tell” or SNT for short. I vividly remember writing a story similar to Thurber’s Walter Mitty,...Continue reading
Society as a whole has been late to come around to the idea that mental disorders and diseases can be diagnosed and actively treated. Mental health professionals and healthcare experts have adopted many new techniques and strategies over the years to help mental illness sufferers and their families live healthy, productive lives. Educating Families...Continue reading
Two particularly masculine ways of expressing anger during fights with a significant other—letting it all out or shutting down emotionally—may take a toll on your health, but in very different ways. A team of researchers at the University of California, Berkeley and Northwestern University found that men who explode with rage are more likely than...Continue reading