Over the past couple of months I’ve come to realise that I have a lot of issues dealing with emotional responses, both my own and others’. This came to a head recently, and I hurt someone I care about deeply. While we are resolving our problems, I knew I had to do something more.
So I decided to go to a session at the local #AndysManClub. As someone with virtually no friends outside of work, this was waaay outside my comfort zone, but I knew I needed to do it and I didn’t waver.
#AndysManClub is a peer group where men can go and talk in a judgement-free setting, with like-minded individuals who just need to talk. And I did - I cried in front of a group of total strangers for the first time ever. And I came out of that one session already feeling better about myself and ready to do more.
Aside from just writing about this from a personal perspective, I also wanted to say this: Men, don’t keep stuff bottled up. Don’t do what I did and keep pushing your feelings away. The world sucks sometimes and it’s okay to be upset by it. And if there’s a single thing you feel you can’t talk about, find a way to do it, even if it’s far outside your comfort zone. You’ll feel a lot better.
#ItsOkayToTalk
https://andysmanclub.co.uk/groups/