Stop saying “I’m good” when you know you’re not. “Everyone’s not equipped to handle our truth.” Black men, it’s time to talk mental health and healing.
Stop Saying “I’m Good”: Why Black Men Need to Talk About Mental Health
I know as Black men we feel unheard and like no one is listening. It’s hard for us to stop saying we’re good when we know deep down we’re not. We often feel like we have no choice because when we say how we feel—it’s as if we’re talking to our damn self.
That silence? It isn’t peace. It’s pressure. And for too many of us, it’s the only thing we know how to do. Not because we’re weak, but because the world doesn’t know how to handle our strength when it’s wounded. That's why we have to understand The Silent Killer: Depression in Black and Brown Men
Most People Ain’t Ready for Our Truth
There’s a deep pain in us, one that goes way beyond daily stress. It’s tied to what we’ve seen, what we’ve survived, and what we’ve never said out loud. The weight we carry is so real, most people couldn’t stomach the intro of our story—let alone the whole thing. So we cut it off. We bottle it up. We say “I’m good” because the truth would make people uncomfortable.
Sometimes it’s easier to protect others from our pain than to try and explain it. So we lie. Not for us—for them.
And the wildest part? Some of us haven’t even lived the worst of it—but we still carry that generational heaviness. Some of us feel “lightweight” compared to what our fathers and uncles endured. But pain doesn’t care about rank. And silence doesn’t heal anybody.
Talking Feels Like Screaming into a Void
Let’s keep it real—most people don’t actually want to hear us. That’s why we keep it inside. That’s why we keep the mask on. We’ve learned that when we speak up, we either get hit with dry one-word responses… or worse, ignored completely. People will look right through you like you didn’t just bare your soul.
And when it gets used against us later? That’s the final straw.
Opening up can be dangerous—because it’s been weaponized against us too many times. Vulnerability is supposed to be healing, but for us? It often ends up another reason to keep our guard high and our mouths shut.
So instead of trusting people, we trust solitude. We go to the gym. We lift the weight that feels like control. We throw on the headphones. We pray. We drown the noise. We tell ourselves, “the spirit will help me.” And in many ways, it does. But that ain’t the full solution.
We’re Not the Only Ones Struggling—Even If It Feels Like It
Anxiety has a way of isolating us. It tells you you’re the only one going through hell. The only one battling erectile dysfunction. The only one deep in debt. The only one who lost a loved one. The only one who’s sick and hiding it. The only one who feels weak.
But that’s a damn lie.
We live on a planet with billions of people—and somehow we still feel like we’re suffering alone. That sense of isolation? It’s deadly. And it thrives in silence.
We walk around thinking nobody else could possibly understand us… when truthfully, there’s a brother out there going through the exact same storm. But we don’t know, because we don’t talk. This is why we need Effective Stress Management Techniques for Men: Mindfulness, Meditation, and Mental Wellness, to help us figure things out.
We Don’t Trust Easy—And There’s a Damn Good Reason
Let’s not pretend trust comes easy. It doesn’t. Especially when the people who say they “care” have used your truth against you.
Some of us tried therapy—but felt cold, unseen. Some of us opened up to family or friends—only to get hurt, exposed, or mocked. That’s the kind of betrayal that teaches a man to keep everything to himself.
We feel stuck. The ones who could help us don’t know us well enough. And the ones who do? We don’t trust them. So we’re caught between a therapist who feels distant… and a friend who already burned us.
That’s a rock and a hard place if there ever was one.
We keep our mouths shut not because we want to—but because experience taught us that being vulnerable comes with consequences. Especially for Black men. Society treats our vulnerability like a weakness, or a threat, or a joke. So we put on the mask. We flex. We ghost. We play the stoic game just to survive the day.
It’s Easier to Say Nothing Than to Risk Everything
We’ve been taught to stay guarded. And let’s be real—not everybody deserves access to our story. Some people just want to feed off your misfortune. Some people want the gossip, not the healing. You open your mouth in the wrong space, and suddenly your pain becomes entertainment. Or ammunition.
That’s why so many of us have mastered the art of the silent struggle.
And if you’ve ever said, “I’ve learned to keep quiet about certain things that bother me,” you’re not alone. That’s been survival mode for a lot of us.
But that same silence is what’s keeping us in chains.
You’re Not Weak for Needing to Talk
Here’s the truth, fam: It’s not weak to want to talk. It’s human.
And no, not everybody will understand you. Not everybody needs to.
But somebody will.
Whether it’s an elder, a therapist, a spiritual advisor—or hell, even the dog—you’ve got to speak.
You’ve got to move the pain out of your body.
You’ve got to stop thinking you’re the only one battling demons in the dark.
Because you’re not.
Real Help May Come From People You Don’t Even Know
One of the wildest truths? Sometimes the people who can help you the most are strangers.
They don’t know your history. They don’t want anything from you. They’re just there to listen and hold space.
You don’t have to give up your bank info. You don’t have to drop your social. You don’t even have to explain everything.
But when you talk? There’s a chance someone will actually hear you—and get it.
You don’t have to be best friends to find healing.
You just have to be willing to open your mouth and speak.
5 Steps to Break the “I’m Good” Lie
Let’s build something better than silence. Here’s your real-world starter kit:
1. Acknowledge that you’re not okay.
Say it out loud. Not to impress anybody. Just to free yourself.
“I’m not good right now. But I’m working on it.”
2. Pick one outlet to express yourself.
Therapy. A journal. A private audio note. A trusted elder. Choose one.
You don’t have to tell everybody—but tell somebody.
3. Use what heals, not what hides.
The gym, music, prayer—those are tools. But they aren’t substitutes for expression. Use them to support your healing, not cover it up.
4. Protect your peace without isolating.
Boundaries are healthy. But full disconnection? That’s just another form of self-sabotage. Find your balance.
5. Stop looking for validation—start seeking truth.
You don’t need approval to be human. You’re a king. Level up in silence—but don’t suffer in it.
Final Word: You’re Not Alone, Black Man
Every line shared by those brothers came from a real place. And now it’s echoed in yours.
This isn’t just another blog post. This is a reminder that your truth is valid.
Your story is sacred.
And your healing? It’s overdue.
Say what you need to say—even if it starts with a whisper.
Even if it feels like you’re talking to yourself.
Because eventually, somebody will hear you.
And more importantly—you’ll hear yourself.
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