Men’s mental health trophies

A client testimonial

 I am a 36-year-old male, small business owner (Tradie). My whole life I have had a strong drive to PUSH in life, this ability certainly has its upsides and got me through many struggles in life but what I found was I couldn’t turn it off.

When my relationship with my partner was in strife I pushed harder, when I was feeling burned out I pushed harder, when I was unsure of the direction I needed to go in life, I just pushed harder and after many many burn outs and finally a surgery that left me unable to walk (run away). All of the things (Demons) that I was pushing to get away from came knocking at the door, and this is when I was fortunate enough to fall into the experienced hands of Melanie.

When I first came to see Melanie I believed that she would tell me what I needed to do, that she could fix me. But what she gave me was far greater than a solution to my issues, she coaxed out my own ability to process these issues, my own strength to look inside and address what I was feeling, and for this I will be eternally grateful.

Now being the push hard, bury the head in the sand kind of guy that I was I really didn’t know how to talk, how to express the emotions I was feeling, everything was just one big knot in my stomach that was too much to even glimpse.

And this is where Melanie shone, with a tremendous amount of care, patience and kindness she gradually supported me in unravelling this knot, in a controlled fashion that allowed me to process each thing I was bottling up in the safe environment of her care.

Through this process I began to let go of all the negative conditioning I had accumulated over the years, negative beliefs id held about myself, these were picked up through an unhealthy childhood, the society and environment I was raised in and also the society I now live in.

Once I began to understand this and dissociate myself from these beliefs, I was able look at them from a point of curiosity and understanding, I began to forgive, to let go of the shit that id been holding myself back with, those Demons that had been preventing me from living a healthy and full life.

As a male in the environment I grew up in was expected to suppress feelings and emotions, to be a “MAN”,  I now feel 10 times the man I was, I am comfortable with myself, I am comfortable being open, and with this new ability my relationships are now flourishing, I am no longer alone in a room full of people.

The process Melanie has taken me through has saved my life, not only saved it, it has thought me to lead a life worth living, to let go of unhealthy relationships and seek fulfilling ones, to once again be conscious.

And with this new awareness comes a childlike curiosity, I’m seeing life in a new light, appreciating the little things and smelling the dam roses again!

Life is fucking good my friends!

If you are fortunate enough to go seek and receive Melanie’s help know that you are in good hands, trust the process, as infuriating and frustrating as it may be just keeping going.

The only way out is through…. And nothing worthwhile comes easy.

Thank you Melanie, I will stay forever grateful to you for teaching, caring and guiding me on this journey. You now have a friend for life.

A final note.

To the Lads out there who are struggling with issues, be it mental health or struggles with your relationships with your wife, your kids or just the role you’ve be forced to play out of necessity. It can be extremely difficult to be that pillar of strength in life when really inside you may be battling with your own demons. Addressing this and getting the help to do so could be the single most important and beneficial act in your own and your families lives. Many of us did not have great relationships with our own fathers and therefore don’t have the confidence and real self-esteem needed to strive in the world.

 Either the buck stops with you or it gets passed on, break that cycle lads, this is true strength.