The Pain Behind the Mask: Overcoming Masculine Depression

by John R. Lynch, Christopher T. Kilmartin

From The Pain Behind the Overcoming Masculine Depression, you will discover how masculine development precludes your male clients toward the two defining characteristics of masculine dissociating from feelings and acting out suppressed feelings in destructive behaviors. Depression in men is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed, which is why it often goes untreated. This unique book does not portray men as victims, but seeks to describe a man’s responsibility and proposes realistic strategies for change.

The Pain Behind the Mask is written in easy-to-follow question and answer format to guide you through various subtopics discussed within each general area. Through The Pain Behind the Mask, you will learn new techniques and strategies to help improve the lives of men who suffer from depression

228 pages, Paperback

First published March 11, 1999

About the author

John Lynch, PhD, is a practicing clinical psychologist and former director of the Dissociative Disorders and Men's Treatment Program at Charter Westbrook Hospital. He is associate professor of psychiatry at the Medical College of Virginia, and a partner in the Westwood Group, a prominent psychology practice in Richmond, VA. He is a member of the APA and VA Society for Clinical Hypnosis.

Reviews

[Rachel]

My review from 2001:

Another look at depression in men. Well researched and thoughtful, this book agrees with much of the outlook of the book in [my] previous review (I Don't Want to Talk About It: Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression). Depression in men often involves unawareness of feelings and behavior that is destructive to the man and his relationships with other people. Much of the reason for this is the way men have been socialized since they were young. Men need to get in touch with their feelings before they can work through the depression. The book has two main sections: "Origins and Consequences," which defines male depression and deals with personal and cultural causes for it, and "Remedies," in which the authors outline steps for acquiring skills for successful relationships and recommend directions for social change.

This book differs in how it sees masculinity as distinguished from femininity. The authors accept the idea that, since the mother is usually the primary nurturer, young boys, unlike young girls, have to establish a male identity based on "not being female," and that this leaves them with a basic "fear of engulfment." This doesn't seem quite right to me. The authors consider that this results in the male dilemma of "Not too close, not too far away." I certainly agree that this dilemma exists.

This is for the most part a very good book, intelligently addressing an important issue. However, the understanding seems a bit shallower than the previous book reviewed. The writing style is dry, and the examples don't have a lot of depth.

[cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

very interesting- i read this book for my class, "Men and Masculinity."