Ep.6- Is Vulnerability A Weakness?

After recording a more polished, intellectual episode about therapy for men (see Episode 5), Audra and Brendan returned to the studio for part 2 because part 1 didn’t feel personal enough.In this episode of This Triggers Me, Dr Audra Horney (a therapist for men) and Dr. Brendan K. Hartman (a sociologist who researches the emotional well being of boys) dig into the messy, uncomfortable side of vulnerability. They explore why some people (Audra) easily default to intellectual instead of emotional, how performing vulnerability can replace real connection, and how this relates to men’s mental health.Key takeaways:Why emotional safety is key to opening upThe difference between real vulnerability and performing vulnerabilityHow perfectionism and fear of judgment block emotional expressionWhy many men feel safer being the helper than receiving helpThe impact of emotional suppression on men’s mental healthHow sharing with the wrong people can feel worse than not sharing at allThe role of gender socialization on men expressing emotionHow overregulation, shame, and fear of “messing it up” limit connectionThe importance of rupture and repair in building emotional trustHow therapy for men can create space to reconnect with yourself and move beyond old patternsConnect with usEmail- thistriggersmepodcast@gmail.comSocial media- https://www.instagram.com/dr.audra.horney/https://www.instagram.com/re.masculine/https://www.instagram.com/thistriggersmepod/https://www.tiktok.com/@thistriggersmepodFind a Therapist for Men: www.draudra.comPodcast post-production: Stacy Blackburn