When you stop to think about all of the changes in both reform and mindset nowadays, it’s encouraging to consider how many things are moving forward. More people are experiencing equal rights for the first time. Stigmas are changing. Stereotypes are dropping. Is it perfect? Of course not. But, it’s hopeful.
Unfortunately, areas that haven’t seen a lot of positive changes over the years are stigmas and stereotypes surrounding men.
We live in a culture where men are often still expected to be strong, fearless, tough, and even silent when it comes to their suffering.
For men with chronic conditions, these stigmas can be extremely damaging. Not only could they affect your physical health but your mental wellbeing as well. What are the ramifications of ignoring those chronic conditions, and what can you do to overcome those stigmas and get the help you need?
Why Do Men Ignore Chronic Conditions?
Before we can dive into some of the risks associated with ignoring chronic conditions, it’s important to know why men do it. Unfortunately, the answer is both simple and complicated.
First, many men deal with self-stigma. It’s often societal influence. Maybe you grew up with a father telling you that “boys didn’t cry” or men needed to be tough. Maybe you idolized the strong and courageous superheroes of your youth or action stars who offer up the definition of “what a man should be.” Having these stigmas in your head, especially from an early age, allows you to buy into societal norms, even if they’re unhealthy.
Societal stigma starts the same way. People start to believe things should be a certain way. In this case, many people believe that men should be strong and not complain about their problems.
When it comes to health, some doctors even fall victim to these stigmas. They might sometimes have trouble understanding what a man is really going through because he doesn’t fully open up. So, doctors need to be taught to treat pain and chronic conditions somewhat differently when it comes to men and women. Men may need a little extra “convincing” when it comes to talking about pain or illnesses.
Physical Health Ramifications
Ignoring any kind of health problem, for any reason, puts you at risk for that conditioning getting worse or something harmful happening before you get help. Some of the most prevalent symptoms associated with chronic conditions include:
- Pain
- Fatigue
- Condition-specific problems that continue to recur
Ignoring any type of physical pain or discomfort can have lasting negative effects. Some chronic illnesses never go away on their own. Some even get worse or more serious over time. While some conditions can’t be fully treated, seeking out medical help can make them easier to manage.
If you don’t get the help your body needs, you could also be putting yourself at risk for developing other physical problems. For example, some chronic conditions are directly affected by how you take care of yourself. Some are even triggered by obesity. It’s fairly common, later in life, to be more inactive, make poor diet choices, and let other things become a priority before your health. That kind of sedentary lifestyle can cause problems like:
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
It can even contribute to vein disease, putting extra strain on your entire vascular system. These are all conditions that require some sort of treatment or management techniques to get better. Ignoring them will make them worse, and could also start to impact your wellbeing in other ways.
Mental Health Ramifications
A 2015 survey found that 40% of men won’t talk about their mental health unless they start to experience thoughts of suicide or self-harm. While everyone has their own reasons for not seeking treatment, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that stigma plays a big role for men.
The problem with these stigmas, especially when it comes to mental health, is that they can cause some men to not only ignore symptoms but not recognize them in the first place. Because many of the stigmas still suggest that men need to be the strong breadwinners of their families, they stay so focused on those things and ignore what their mind is telling them. Some of the most common signs of a mental health condition are:
- Feelings of sadness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Low energy
- Excessive worrying
- Withdrawal from friends
- Loss of interest
You might not be able to keep yourself from feeling those things, but ignoring that you need help can lead to other ways of coping. It’s one reason why men are more likely to turn to things like drugs and alcohol to “manage” their mental health.
Some men view conditions like depression and anxiety as weak. Others are embarrassed to bring up their struggles with family members and friends. Some even feel like they can’t pay for mental health treatment as the main source of income for a family, even though you may be able to get social security disability benefits for a diagnosed mental health condition – including anxiety and depression.
What are the ramifications of ignoring a mental health condition? They tend to get worse over time when they aren’t treated. They rarely go away on their own. Without help, they could also snowball into a variety of different disorders.
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