Man Up Mentality
Men’s Mental Health and Wellness
What is the Man Up Mentality?
I started this site to bring awareness to men’s mental health. Along the way I hope to create a community where people can share their experiences, successes, failures and anything other insights you may have. After all, a lot of what we go through when dealing with mental health issues is perception. Both in how we view it and how friends and family see it’s effect on us. Know that it’s real. The Man Up Mentality is a call to action. It’s disregarding the traditional notion of “being a man”. Embrace vulnerability. It’s powerful. So don’t be afraid to Man Up and own your mental health!
I’ve dealt with bipolar for most of my life. For a long time I didn’t know I had it. I just assumed I was a moody person and that was it. I needed to just push through the tough times. I grew very adept at putting on a happy face. I remember feeling like such a fake growing up because what I felt inside was so at odds with my outward actions. After a few major episodes I was finally diagnosed. Good news? Eh. It really only means you have a label for it. Then the therapy begins (if you can afford it) and you test out medicine. I say test, because what works for one person doesn’t for another. If you’re bipolar you have to manage medications for the mania and the depression so it becomes this chemical balancing act. On top of that, it often takes 6 weeks or so for medication to take full effect. If you start running the numbers in your head you get a sense of how long it can take to get the right cocktail of meds that work for you. It’s frustrating to say the least. It takes persistence and advocating for yourself. That means speaking up and being truthful about how you are feeling – should be no different then telling your primary care doc that you have a sore throat. However, that’s often hard given the stigma surrounding mental health. Hell, I doubted I had an issue several times along the way. It didn’t end well.
Since I’ve been diagnosed and my medication sorted out, I have been able to overcome the debilitating aspects of bipolar. It’s not that it’s gone, there are ups and downs still but they are very manageable. It takes discipline. Honestly, I think that has made me more successful in my career. I’ve become more emotionally intelligent and I know how to overcome tough situations either through sticking with my process or realizing that I need to try something new. It certainly makes you think outside the box! I’m very fortunate to be successful and have a wonderful family. I want to share that story. The good, the bad, and the successes that came from my experience.
About Me
Who is behind Man Up Mentality?
My name is Daniel and I live and work in the Sacramento, CA area. I was born and raised in St. Louis where I lived until I went off to college. I did my undergraduate work at the University of California at Davis, a small college town close to Sacramento. While there, I met my wife and started a family here. She has always been a big part of my support structure and without her, I know I wouldn’t be here working on this right now. We have two awesome kids I enjoy every moment, well almost every moment. They’re kids, shit hits the fan sometimes.
I love getting outside when I can – playing soccer and golf (I look more like Happy Gilmore than Tiger Woods but at least I get to have a few beers). My wife and I love hosting parties and spending time with friends and family.
I’m really hoping this site will help some people and develop a community of people who are open to new ideas and perspectives. As this develops I would love to hear from you about your experiences, struggles and what’s worked for you as you worked through some mental health issues.