u DIVO OPINION
LOVE ST YLE u LOVE LIFE u AME O ESTILO u AME A VIDA
Por Drª. Sylvie Ribeiro,
PSYCHOLOGIST AND PSYCHOTHERAPIST AT CLÍNICA DA MENTE PSICÓLOGA E PSICOTERAPEUTA NA CLÍNICA DA MENTE
We live in a society that prioritizes and admires “strong people. By this we mean that reason should override feelings, and that feelings should somehow be hidden or camouflaged. Many people still raise their children, especially boys, to be strong and brave, so as not to appear weak to others.
From an early age, boys learn from their parents that they should not express vulnerability or even affection. Early on, boys learn to suppress those natural emotional responses like crying or even some facial expressions of sadness or fear. This type of behavior repeated over several years of growth and personality development eventually leads to adults who are not very aware of their own emotions. These adults don’t know, for example, that feeling frustration because they don’t have their spouse’s attention when they get home after a demanding day is something they have “the right” to feel and that it is also something natural. The social stigma does not accept that they feel needy. Many men choose to repress their emotions. Among the emotions most often repressed or “forbidden” are, for example: sadness, fear, jealousy, envy, guilt, shame, longing, need, resentment, or even love. These emotions can then give way to more “acceptable” emotions, such as anger, hatred, elation, pride, or joy. The problem here arises when the original emotion is replaced and repressed by another emotion, due to social stigma. This camouflage can cause increased emotional tension in men, and
“IT BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE LIFE’S GOALS WITHOUT FULLY ACCEPTING WHO WE ARE...”
emotional disorders such as Depression and Anxiety can arise. There are several studies that point to the fact that women more easily seek psychological support than men. And what is certain is that this inability or reluctance to seek help, motivated by social stigma, can greatly harm men’s own physical and mental health. It is a misconception that women suffer more from psychological illnesses based on help-seeking. Men often suffer in silence. The sooner a man gets rid of this stigma, the more easily he can free himself from this tension. This implies an openness to self-knowledge, that is, a readiness to explore one’s own vulnerabilities and weaknesses. It becomes more difficult to achieve life’s goals without fully accepting who we are, without accepting and knowing our mistakes, our insecurities, and our doubts. The bravest people are those who show themselves imperfect to the world. The path to happiness and emotional balance in man requires him to assume his vulnerabilities. Facing risks, having the courage to be imperfect, and making mistakes requires the emotional exposure necessary for the process of growth and development. In return, you will achieve your greatest accomplishments!
DON’T REPRESS YOUR EMOTIONS! 22 divo
