YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

Hi guys!

My name is Sam. I could say that I'm very empathetic. I can always understand other people's emotion or situation that I find myself as equally hurt and heart broken, for example, as they are. No matter if they're my family, friends, stories I hear in the news and social media and even movies or video clips that I watched. Sometimes, it is hard to fully express this feeling since I'm a guy and in our culture, it's a bit off for men to be seen having so many emotions, even more to cry. Well, I truly believe this kind of stereotype must be eliminated and the expectations on men should not be as restricted and defining.

Anyways, I tend to just keep my feelings to myself and keep on a mask that everything is ok. It's easier to say I'm fine than when I'm not. I could not bare the questions after. Most of the time, I only want to keep quiet and resolve it all on my own. But is that wrong? There's a part of me that wants to share but there's also a part of me that does not want to speak and talk about it. I'm too confusing if I say so myself.

I'd love to hear stories of others too. It's nice to have found some comfort space, even on the net.

Nice to meet you all!

Hello Freelyoutgoing, welcome to our little forum. Make yourself at home in the threads and topics here.

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I am ashamed to say that I am not very empathetic, which is to say, I slowly come to the realization of the feelings of the people around me. I wish I could cry, it is bottled up inside me.

Freelyoutgoing wrote:I tend to just keep my feelings to myself and keep on a mask that everything is ok. It's easier to say I'm fine than when I'm not. I could not bare the questions after.

Please feel free to express yourself deeply and completely here. We would love and appreciate it.

All the best, take care, cheers!