From a young age, many boys receive clear signals about which emotions are acceptable. Anger might be allowed. Frustration might be tolerated. But sadness, fear, and vulnerability often get pushed aside.
Over time, this creates a habit of emotional shutdown. A man might feel something deeply but struggle to put it into words. Instead, those emotions may show up in other ways, such as irritability, withdrawal, overworking, or even physical symptoms like headaches and fatigue.
