Psychology Today | 20.05.2026 02:13
A lot of American men seem to be doing pretty well these days — at least, on the outside. Despite a jumble of obligations at work and at home, they’re still meeting deadlines, maintaining their social lives, and showing up for their partners or families. They might struggle through a few sleepless nights here and there, or have to work all weekend every once in a while, or take the red-eye that gets in just before an important meeting — but that's normal, right? And having a couple of beers before you go to bed, or not being able to concentrate because a big problem is hanging over your head — that’s just a natural consequence of taking on so many responsibilities, you might say to yourself. But therein lies the problem: That same ability to take on so much, and the belief that you should be able to handle it, is also what makes it hard to see the distress you feel. So what does it actually cost to keep it together, and how long can you keep that up before something breaks?
