h Um P . d A y yy !!

By K. Potter | Published on March 23, 2o26

MTV Cribs, but it's the Projects

By K. Potter | Published on March 21, 2o26

Men's Mental Health: the Stigma and Avoidance

By K. Potter | Published on March 15, 2o26

The stigma around mental health for women in the U.S. has declined dramatically in recent years, or been rebranded rather. Over the last century we have seen some stabilization of the unethical mental facilities that housed "hysterical," women, minorities and outcasts. Whereas these environments were then structured around philosophical centered care, over time the evolution of holistic approaches, and the introduction of serene therapy offices, as well as outpatient care backed by scientific policies have become standard. And mostly voluntary. However, for men the weight that they tend to carry, and the brand of their mental wellness has remained essentially untouched.

On one hand, it is possible that they consider that seeking help is somehow counterproductive or even a weakness. Many men do that while carrying the sole financial strain for growing families. That burden in itself is a wild load to carry alone in the economy of 2026, with growing unemployment and rising inflation. Right now, only 40% of the U.S. population will not see homelessness for a minimum of 2 weeks before the end of their lives and 10% of the population will die in that circumstance.

On the other hand, men do not communicate openly with their villages (if they are blessed by any at all). What I mean by this is that while women are encouraged to have open dialogues about their feelings and openly share within their circle: men avoid these feelings by repressing their fears, angers and sadness when given the opportunity to yap; allowing it to stack and stack and stack. They may find ways to cope, but it is likely that without therapy and real communication these methods are addictions. Let us not forget anything can be an addiction. Maybe they cannot sit down, they find themselves working when they are not on the clock. Maybe they doomscroll in the bathroom for hours or maybe they really do consume drugs like alcohol, prescriptions, etc.

Why is this? While there are a few enlightened and/or medically treated men, their Rx often doesn’t come assigned with work. They may go to a doctor with the what - their symptoms (if they seek help) - they get a blanket medication (or shopped for) and what should be a bridge turns into a wall. There are rarely therapists involved. So now these particular men are stacking stress and trauma inside a medically induced box.

As an advocate, this experience is frustrating to me because I cannot receive medicinal treatment without therapy at the practice I visit and the practices of my past (Texas included). Personally, my family and I (boy included) go to therapy weekly; happy or sad. I find it imperative to our wellbeing and quality of life.

In my experience, without doing the work there will be little benefit seen from medication. Especially, when the Rx has been sought out specifically and obtained. With the blanket medication, specific symptoms aren not being considered and while they may cause a calmness: it is often foggy. In my mind, therapy is crucial to defining the necessity of medicine for the mind- the why.

This is my encouragement to all men to consider seeking the same resources that exist for women. Sometimes there are few and far between, but I am unsure that treatment can be done properly when the why does not justify the what. And I am very sure, from experience, that when these issues are left bottled up, unaddressed, mistreated or all of the above it can lead to unpredictableness, volatile behaviors and destructive patterns. I have also observed, that in some cases, this may lead some men to unknowingly become the victim of domestic violence.

t i d a l s

By K. Potter | Published on March 11, 2o26

It comes in waves
And sometimes those waves feel like tsunamis

But isn't it imperative that we ride them sometimes?
Not each one, but the tsunami category kinds

You can count yourself lucky when there are others paddling alongside
And blessed if they throw you life rafts

Because often, that kind of support becomes a surf board
And sadly, that support is next to nonexistent without sinkers

Take it like a shot, if you gotta cause --

With support, you transform depression into power
The ride propels you and when it returns

Because it will

Like quicksand or something or other
The bravado of self, the tacit knowledge becomes alchemy

And one day, that something or other
will be a light fog
Cured by hot coffee and hobby

based on therapist's rec