Men tend not to seek mental health services for many reasons, but one of the biggest factors contributing to this lapse in care is stigma. As Americans, we have grown up in a society that encourages us to be self-sufficient, resilient, and “strong.” Unfortunately, it also tells us that showing emotion is “weak” and leads us to believe that asking for help is a sign of deficiency or inadequacy as a man. 

what is the difference in a bad habit and an addiction? In a clinical sense, we tend to define addiction as a pattern of repeated behavior despite negative consequences. It is also common to have the experience of wanting to stop and not being able to, or engaging in dangerous activities while under the influence putting ourselves in harm’s way. By this definition, any number of habits could be considered addictions, but even then, do they really constitute going to therapy, residential treatment, or AA?