Men Showing Grief

By: Matthew Funeral Home
Monday, October 28, 2019

It can often be hard for men to show emotions, especially in the face of pain and grief. There is a societal notion that one needs to “man up,” or shut down emotional pain. Keeping pain and feelings of loss bottled up is unhealthy. When you lose a close friend or family member, it is not your job to man up. It is your job to mourn, to feel, to allow yourself to accept the loss of your loved one. 

Grief is Unpredictable

Grief can be very unpredictable. Grief can feel numb one day, and raw the next. Different days can trigger feelings, such as a birthday, deathday, anniversaries or certain holidays. It is important to accept your feelings of grief rather than fighting it. 

Pressure to “Man Up”

There can be a lot of societal pressure to “man up” and be stoic in the face of pain and adversity. “Men don’t cry.” It is alright to feel pain. It is OK to feel loss. You are allowed to feel feelings, and express them. Men fight through pain and grief just like women; but it is not as accepted to do so out in the open.

Talk to Someone

For many men, opening up about feelings can seem scary, But keeping quiet and silently toiling with your grief helps no one. If you need help, reach out. If you need to talk about your grief, do so. If you need to cry, let it out.

Grief is a burden to bear, but that doesn’t mean you have to carry the weight of your grief alone. There are probably a lot of people in your life that you can turn to. If you do not feel comfortable opening up about your grief with friends or family, consider seeking professional grief specialists, or visit a grief support group.

Find Your Balance

There is a lot you can do to help with your grief. Finding what activities help you through your grief can be important. Getting enough sleep, exercising, or even just sitting in a park and getting some fresh air can all be helpful towards finding mindfulness and calm in a sea of grief. 

The author of this post is not a professional therapist or counselor. For assistance in finding a grief counselor that is right for you, there are a number of resources out there. For our Grief Resource Center, written by Dr. Bill Webster, click here
For almost 50 years, Matthew Funeral Home has been serving the Staten Island community. We can help with almost every aspect of your loved one’s memorial service. Our family is here to serve yours, every step of the way.

Leave a comment
Name*:
Email:
Comment*:
Please enter the numbers and letters you see in the image. Note that the case of the letters entered matters.

Comments

Please wait

Previous Posts

How Does Cremation Work?

Most people understand that cremation is a process by which the remains of the deceased are burned and converted to ashes. But there are many steps to the process in order to ensure that everything...

What To Do When a Loved One Passes

When a loved one passes, there is going to be a lot of pain and grief. Loved ones will need to be contacted and brought together. But there are also a few practical steps that need to be taken, as ...

Combating Senior Loneliness After the Loss of a Spouse

After the loss of an elderly loved one, their spouse can feel incredibly lonely. After spending a long time with a partner, losing a spouse can be difficult. For many, this is a time of learning to...

Why You Should Consider Cremation

Cremation is a topic that many people may find uncomfortable or difficult to discuss. For a long time, it was not accepted by many major religions, most notably Catholicism. However, it is an impor...

Leaving Your Digital Assets Behind in 2023

The internet has evolved in many ways since the advent of the smartphone. And more people use social media and other websites to express themselves daily. Many elderly individuals have learned how ...

Essential Coping Tools When Dealing With Loss

After the loss of a loved one, you may feel like your whole life is turned upside down. And after dealing with funeral arrangements and families coming in from out of town, it can be hard to pick u...

Supporting a Bereaved Coworker

When a coworker has a death in the family, it can be important to support them during their difficult time. There is no clear-cut or easy way to help someone who is grieving. But lending a supporti...

Processing Anger in Grief

Anger is the second stage of grief, and it is often one of the hardest to deal with. Anger can be a raw emotion, and it is easy to be overwhelmed during your grief. This article will discuss how an...

What Does My Religion Say About Cremation?

Cremation is rapidly becoming more and more popular in America, with a projected over 54% of Americans opting to cremate in 2020. If you or a loved one are considering choosing cremation for your e...

Reasons You May Want to Contest A Will

After your loved one passes, their Will will be presented, if they have one. It is possible that you have some issues with how your loved one has divided their estate. Generally, an individual shou...