In therapy, we often see that suppressed anger—anger that is denied, swallowed, or turned inward—is a major, hidden contributor to anxiety and depression, particularly for men struggling with the confines of the male gender script.

As a psychotherapist, I've seen first-hand how this ingrained message fuels a relentless pressure to conform, leading to what Dr. John Barry calls the male gender script. This script dictates that men must be independent, stoic, competitive, and above all, emotionally invulnerable. And it’s slowly, quietly, hurting men.

The Male Gender Script, with its rigid expectations and enforced emotional repression, is a key driver of the current male mental health crisis. The pressures from modern feminism, misandry, capitalism, the labour market, postmodernism, and automation only serve to worsen the psychological toll on men and boys.