Loneliness & Isolation

Many men struggle with feelings of loneliness and isolation. If they are single the feelings of loneliness and isolation could become particularly debilitating. In a relationship, the need for companionship could be unfairly requested of by their partner. On the surface feelings of loneliness and isolation could be easily handled through simple ‘techniques’. Men could be asked to think of activities or personal areas of interest and join groups to break from the isolation. Ideas could be generated that could help the man to get out more and reach out.

However, these techniques are generally fleeting in nature and do not address the real barrier that keeps men lonely and isolated. It takes courage for any individual to reach out as there can be at times the fear of rejection and a feeling of vulnerability. For men, reaching out can be even more difficult as healthy intimacy between men is not something that is modeled, understood, or appreciated in our society. Often men are afraid of each other and their personal sense of vulnerability. Rather than support, each other men tend to suffer in silence.