MY thoughts on mental health

urviving a hard season takes real strength. But the habits that got you through don't always dissolve when the hard times end. Here's what Post-Traumatic Growth actually looks like - and how to begin moving beyond survival mode.

When men find themselves drawn repeatedly into relationships that cause harm - or relationships where they cause harm - it rarely comes down to weakness or poor choices.

A reflective clinical perspective on male domestic abuse, exploring how men and boys experience harm, trauma, recognition, and the long-term impact on relationships and emotional wellbeing.

Male Domestic Violence, Masculinity, and the Hidden Barriers to Speaking Up Today, as I write this, I turn 55. Birthdays tend to invite reflection. This one feels particularly significant because I am writing about male domestic abuse - something that has shaped my life in ways I only fully understood years later. Before I had language for words like violence, protection, or masculinity; domestic abuse was already present in my story. My father stayed silent about it. He beli

Why men avoid therapy - and the hidden cost of waiting until crisis. A grounded look at strength, stigma and early support for men.

Becoming a father can trigger anxiety, old wounds and fear of repeating the past. Explore how men can break intergenerational trauma, recognise paternal postnatal depression and grow into fatherhood with intention.

A personal reflection on male suicide, shame, isolation, and what actually helps men stay alive, especially during the pressures of December.

Many men carry wounds that run deeper than they realise - old pain, shame, or loss that still shapes how they live. At Stand Tall Therapy in Cumbria, we explore how men can transform those emotional wounds into strength, purpose, and connection. Drawing on Robert Bly’s Iron John, this article looks at men’s healing, trauma recovery, and the power of nature-based therapy and men’s groups to turn pain into purpose.

Interoception is simply your ability to sense what’s happening inside your body: the uncomfortable feeling in your stomach before a tough conversation; the tightness in your chest when stresses pile up; and the warmth in your legs after a long exhale. These signals are the raw data your brain uses to decide whether you’re safe, stressed, hungry, tired, threatened or ready. If you can read those signals earlier, you can respond sooner and more appropriately.

Procrastination isn’t about laziness or lack of discipline. It’s often a sign that your nervous system is in protection mode – a body-first signal to slow down. In this piece, Stephen Hall explores why men struggle to get started, what’s really happening beneath the surface, and simple, body-based ways to move through resistance with compassion.

Explore whether a “good addiction” exists. Learn the difference between passion and addiction, with insights from Dr Gabor Maté on habits, freedom, and healing.

Suicide doesn’t always look like despair. Discover how men mask pain, why stereotypes harm, and how connection can save lives.

Male suicide is complex. Explore research on why men struggle, hidden signs, and how conversations can save lives.

Psychosis explained in plain language: what it feels like, how it differs from schizophrenia, common myths, and how men and families can support recovery.

I’ve followed The Hurt Locker Podcast from the beginning. It first came onto my radar during a period of personal uncertainty, and I was immediately struck by the honesty of the conversations, the diversity of guests, the humour, and the empathy behind Yinka’s style. So, when I was invited to take part, I said yes. I wanted to step into the Hurt Locker to open up about what it means to support men in moving from disconnection to presence in a way that’s grounded, compassionat

Maternal Attachment Trauma is one of the deepest yet least discussed emotional wounds impacting men today.

Self-harm is not just a teenage issue or something that only affects women! My experience working with men supports research showing that th

Talking about the trauma of sexual abuse and seeking therapy are not signs of weakness; they are acts of profound courage.

Research on practices like mindfulness, meditation, and breathwork shows how tuning into physical sensations can regulate the nervous system

Have you ever been somewhere familiar, with people you trust, yet felt a sudden sense of danger?