Playing hurt

As men, we often just “push through” and keep going. This mentality is ingrained in us, especially through sports, where we’re taught to persevere. How many times have we seen athletes simply bandage an injury and get back in the game? Old sayings like, “Dust yourself off and get back on the horse,” reinforce this idea.

We tend to hold ourselves to these standards. I believe being a man does involve toughness and the willingness to push through challenges. But how does this relate to the mental health challenges we face in daily life—stress, anxiety, disappointment? Often, we feel obligated to just get back in the game and keep moving forward. In reality, most of the time, we have no choice but to continue on and fulfill our responsibilities. We idolize the image of the tough athlete playing hurt. What we often overlook, however, is that many athletes receive extensive treatment for their injuries. In organized sports, trainers are there to help manage and heal these injuries.

This sports analogy helps explain how we perceive mental health. Too often, we deal with our mental health struggles alone, “playing hurt” without any support.

So don’t play hurt without help. Reach out, talk about it.