Many men struggle to properly process their emotions. Naturally, this can result in relational conflicts, from a lack of communication to ignored boundaries. Whether you’re a man or partnered with a man, it’s in your interest to know how to prioritize men’s emotional health in relationships.

Of course, this process is easier said than done. Every mental illness operates differently. Therefore, an anxiety disorder will not present the same issues as a type of depression. As such, it’s in your interest to research the specific condition your relationship struggles with while following these practices.

The Importance of Men’s Mental Health

While there’s a growing conversation surrounding men’s mental health, most men continue to surpress emotions and vulnerability. There are two common reasons for this:

• Masculinity – Men naturally feel the need to deal with conflicts themselves. In terms of a relationship, many men feel the need to protect loved ones. Not just from the outside world, but themselves also.

• Societal Norms – Since masculine tendencies require men to control their emotions, men aren’t taught how to properly process these sensations. As such, they’re more likely to avoid mental health treatment.

This lack of social support has been shown to increase male loneliness, and further the progress of certain conditions, such as depression. ¹ When such conditions go untreated, they can result in other negative emotions, such as anger, irritability, or risky behavior.

If a significant other cannot recognize these symptoms, they may feel distanced or frustrated – misinterpreting them for lack of commitment or indifference towards emotional intimacy. Still, understanding what male mental health looks like is the first step towards helping a loved one heal.

How Poor Mental Health Affects Relationships

If a man’s mental health goes untreated, it can affect various dynamics of a relationship. These include the following:

• Difficulty with Communication – Men may struggle to articulate their emotions and express vulnerability. This may lead to their partner misunderstanding them or feeling unheard.

• Emotional Withdrawal – When men struggle with emotions, they tend to retreat into isolation. Naturally, this can make a partner also feel isolated and destroy a relationship’s intimacy and trust.

• Aggravated Conflict – Untreated mental health conditions (i.e. depression in men) can lead to other negative feelings, such as irritability or anger. ² This may also result in relationship conflicts and weaken the foundation of a connection.

When a man’s emotions go unchecked, it can have a ripple effect into the well-being of a relationships. To strengthen the relationship, it’s key to understand these factors and work towards treating the mental health concerns.

How Men’s Stress Affects Relationships

Men struggle with stress for several reasons. While mental illness may be one factor of stress, men can also feel pressure from fulfilling masculine traits (i.e. the need to provide).

Unfortunately, stress doesn’t just impact the mind. It can also have the following negative contributions to a man’s body:

• Disrupted sleep
• Fatigue
• Irritability

These strains can naturally increase tension and reduce a man’s emotional availability.

If you or a loved one struggles with stress, there are grounding techniques to help mitigate it. It’s important that significant others recognize how to help their partners through these strategies.

How Can Men Use Mental Health Support to Build Stronger Relationships?

If your partner struggles with mental health, there are a few actions you can take to ensure they receive the proper help:

• Open Communication – Make regular opportunities to openly discuss you and your partners emotions and challenges.

• Get a Therapist – If you struggle with open dialogue, you may need to seek professional help to manage emotions and build a stronger relationship.

• Be Empathetic – While your partner may present challenges, it’s important you attempt to understand where they’re coming from to develop trust.

• Have Patience – Depending on the mental health concern, it can take a long time for a partner to heal. Be patient and supportive through the process.

These practices can help break barriers that may create distance between you and your partner. Furthermore, it can be the support a man needs to seek professional help.

The Impact of a Break-Up

When men experience a relationship loss, their pre-existing mental health conditions can worsen. After a break-up, many men struggle with:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Suicidal ideation

According to a 2023 study, the challenges men face in long- and short-term relationships include the following: ⁴

• Domestic conflict
• Infidelity
• Job loss
• Medical condition
• Parenting stressors

If a man struggles to maintain a relationship through these challenges, they often feel exacerbated in the aftermath.

One of the elements that exacerbates these challenges is masculinity. By nature, men want to be problem-solvers and have control over major life events. Success in these fields leads to confidence. However, if a relationship ends in distress, it can leave a man feeling like a failure.

Another element of this exacerbation is the nature of dating again. Beyond the fact that men lead more isolated lives than women, their value in the dating pool is largely based on their masculine assets. ⁵ In other words, a man with more financial, health, and social stability has a better chance at attracting women than a man who struggles in these fields.

If a relationship ends because a man struggled with these elements of his life, it can make a break-up all the more difficult. Beyond anxiety and depression, some men may experience panic attacks that require hospitalization or suicidal thoughts.

Final Word

For a healthy relationship to prosper, a man’s mental health is essential. However, in the modern era, male loneliness has become an epidemic that can lead to devastating consequences. As such, it’s important for a man to show emotions and work through negative thought processes.

Men’s Emotional Health in Relationships FAQs

References

¹ Bruss KV, Seth P, Zhao G. Loneliness, Lack of Social and Emotional Support, and Mental Health Issues – United States, 2022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2024 Jun 20;73(24):539-545. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7324a1. PMID: 38900690; PMCID: PMC11199020.

² Macdonald JA, Greenwood CJ, Francis LM, Harrison TR, Graeme LG, Youssef GJ, Di Manno L, Skouteris H, Fletcher R, Knight T, Williams J, Milgrom J, Olsson CA. Profiles of Depressive Symptoms and Anger in Men: Associations With Postpartum Family Functioning. Front Psychiatry. 2020 Nov 23;11:578114. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.578114. PMID: 33329118; PMCID: PMC7719778.

³ Yaribeygi H, Panahi Y, Sahraei H, Johnston TP, Sahebkar A. The impact of stress on body function: A review. EXCLI J. 2017 Jul 21;16:1057-1072. doi: 10.17179/excli2017-480. PMID: 28900385; PMCID: PMC5579396.

⁴ Oliffe JL, Broom A, Ridge D, Kelly MT, Gonzalez Montaner G, Seidler ZE, Rice SM. Masculinities and men’s emotions in and after intimate partner relationships. Sociol Health Illn. 2023 Feb;45(2):366-385. doi: 10.1111/1467-9566.13583. Epub 2022 Nov 15. PMID: 36377646.

⁵ Umberson D, Lin Z, Cha H. Gender and Social Isolation across the Life Course. J Health Soc Behav. 2022 Sep;63(3):319-335. doi: 10.1177/00221465221109634. Epub 2022 Jul 20. PMID: 35856404; PMCID: PMC10409601.