John Lynch and Christopher T. Kilmartin - The Pain Behind the Mask: Overcoming Masculine Depression

"Be a man!" "Real men don't cry!" "Don't be a wimp!" How many times, either now or during your youth, have you heard these "hard knocks" flung in your face? Masculine depression is a vicious syndrome that feeds upon your fear of these expectations. You are supposed to be -- by "masculine" standards -- totally strong -- unfeeling -- a winner -- desirable. But from these expectations emerges a special type of depression just now being recognized: "Masculine Depression." This is an overwhelming syndrome in men that is almost always misunderstood and misdiagnosed. When you were encouraged, during your early years, to develop a great "masculine" personality, you were unintentionally and secretly also being taught to Suppress a great many feelings, attitudes, and desires because they would not be seen as "masculine" enough. Much of what you really wanted to achieve in life was thus distorted, and a vague feeling of an "unfulfilling existence" permeated your every waking hour. This kind of depression can be devast Minimize