Mental Health for Men: Bonding and Activities

I’ve noticed that men bond over experiences. For me, this was sports and video games. I remember spending hours out on a court bonding with my best friend. That would be followed up with hours of playing Gauntlet Legends on N64. It was a whole lot of hanging out and talking while doing an activity. In today’s blog, I’ll talk about how men build relationships over shared experiences.

Emotions and Men’s Mental Health

A reason why men build relationships while having a shared experience is because of the reduced social pressure of looking someone straight in the eye while having a conversation. Having a conversation while looking someone directly in the eyes can be intense. While people are doing an activity, maintaining direct eye contact is not necessary. If things get too intense, there is an activity to focus on. I can remember having a deep conversation while at a baseball game. I can remember having a deep conversation while walking home from a game night. I can also remember having a conversation at the bar counter with a buddy right after he and his girlfriend broke up. Many men find it significantly easier to open up and have a deep conversation when there’s another activity going on. Having a conversation sitting directly across from another person can be intimidating and uncomfortable. 

Another reason why men bond over shared experiences is because it can build trust. When you are doing an activity that requires you to rely on another person, that builds trust. When you can trust someone in one area of life, that trust can move to other aspects of your life. For some men, this can mean trusting someone with their emotional safety. If a person shows up and does enough activities with another person, that trust and relationship can start to build. 

Having shared experiences means creating memories with one another. These memories can strengthen bonds and relationships. Men can talk about that one time when they had to think quickly on their feet, or that one time when they got into some deep trouble, or that one time when they both got their asses handed to them. People love to reminisce about experiences they shared. It brings them closer. Who doesn’t love to talk about the most memorable moments they share?

For many men, doing activities together builds bonds. Activities reduce social pressure, can build trust with one another, and can build lasting memories. Doing activities with other people can help men build stronger relationships.

Get Mental Health Treatment for Men

Address your mental health with therapy with Chris Rabanera. Take the first steps with a free 15-minute consultation. I offer online therapy in California, Michigan, Nebraska, and Las Vegas. As an experienced therapist, I specialize in physician burnout, grief counseling, anxiety, and depression. I also provide tailored mental health treatment for men.