Understanding Anxiety in Men

Hey everyone, Dr. Russ Kennedy here! Today on the AnxietyRX Podcast, we're tackling a topic that's close to my heart: anxiety in men and boys.

We all see it, right? Guys seem to just bottle everything up. But here's the thing - anxiety doesn't discriminate! In this episode, I'm gonna explain why even though some guys might seem cool as a cucumber, they could be silently freaking out.

We're gonna unpack how society basically tells men to "toughen up" and "be a man", not exactly helpful advice when you're feeling anxious. We'll dig into why guys might be hesitant to reach out for help, and how these patterns often start when they're just young boys.

I'm gonna share some tips on how to build better support networks for the men in your life, and how to have real conversations that go beyond the usual "man up" routine.

This episode is a must-listen if you want to understand the men in your life better.

Thank you for listening and you can find me on IG: @theanxietymd if you have any questions.

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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Introduction
01:08 - Early Signs of Anxiety in Males
02:17 - Men's Avoidance of Anxiety
03:18 - Coping Mechanisms
04:15 - Impact of Anxiety on Men's Mental Health
05:26 - Substance Use and Coping Strategies
06:41 - Challenges of Seeking Help
07:50 - Fatherhood and Anxiety
09:06 - Men's Groups and Support
10:13 - Addressing Male Vulnerability
11:42 - Men's Mental Health and Connection
13:00 - Coping Strategies and Intention for Change
15:20 - Scatter Joy Project

[jasonseifried]

Dr. Russ I watch all your videos. And don’t get me wrong theirs a lot of people that have great videos about anxiety. But your videos are starting to actually heal my health anxiety. It comes and goes but I now have the tools to control my alarms. I’m so appreciative of your videos and hard work. Thank you so much

[RemarkableU-PROfficial]

❤❤❤ thank you so much for tackling this topic. You are exactly right, men are often left out of the conversation around anxiety, etc. I hadn’t thought about my Dad being sensitive, he was rather gruff when I knew him. And, as I listen to your ideas I wonder if his rough exterior was a coverup for being naturally sensitive. He suffered from panic attacks and depression.

His Mom suffered a mental breakdown immediately after she gave birth to him. He was taken care of in the hospital by the nursing staff for the first two weeks of his life. He was the first child in a family of four.

When I first heard you talking about anxiety on Clubhouse - one of my first big ahaha’s about your work was the realization that the way you describe the experience of ANXIETY and how to heal. The first thing that occurred to me was that I wished my Dad was alive and I could turn him on to you and your work. Because it felt/feels accessible and how you being together the action path to healing, AND, your sense of humor would have been a good way to gain access to his story and authentic self so that he could have had a chance to feel better.

I love your position about being part of an intentional Mens groups.

Keep up the beautiful/powerful work. Essential.

[jasonseifried]

I had an abusive father where he beat me and my mother. Then my mother separated then I couldn’t accept any other guys in my life. Then I rebelled. And it led my mother to drugs then I pretty much fended for myself. Which led me to crime and drugs. And being in situations where I was abused. A 13 year old shouldn’t be living on their own. It messed me up. Now I’m doing great other than my alarms.