Health · Mental Health · 23 hrs ago
Author says men should challenge ideas about strength and seek therapy
German author Florian Heide says many men suffer without seeking help.
He has written a book, “Odysseus' Tränen,” for men who believe they do not need therapy.
Heide says he struggled for years with obsessive and ruminating thoughts that harmed his quality of life.
Psychotherapy helped him find a way through that distress.
In Germany, men make up more than 60 percent of people with alcohol dependence and about a third of those in outpatient psychotherapy.
Heide links this gap to pressure on men to stay strong and silent.
He says adult men can question the ideas about masculinity they learned growing up and choose what strength means to them.
Author Florian Heide says men should question traditional ideas about masculinity and seek help when they are suffering.
Heide says he struggled for years with compulsive and ruminative thoughts before turning to psychotherapy.
He argues that men can choose their own standards for strength, including talking through conflicts on equal terms.
His book, “Odysseus’ Tears,” is aimed at men who believe they do not need therapy.
The article says men make up more than 60 percent of people with alcohol dependence in Germany but about a third of people in outpatient psychotherapy.
- Who
- Florian Heide, an author in his early 30s.
- What
- He urges men to question learned ideas about masculinity and seek therapy when they need help.
- When
- The article was published on 8 November 2026.
- Where
- Germany is the context of the article; the interview was with ntv.de.
- Why
- Heide says traditional expectations can make men reluctant to recognise their suffering and seek help.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Heide struggled with compulsive and ruminative thoughts, at times unable to move from the couch for hours.
Heide turned to psychotherapy, which he says helped him acknowledge his limits.
Heide published “Odysseus’ Tears,” a book for men who believe they do not need therapy.
- Author
- Florian Heide
- Book
- Odysseus’ Tears
- Germany
- More than 60% of people with alcohol dependence are men
- Outpatient psychotherapy
- Men account for about one-third of patients
- Article publication
- 8 November 2026
What people are saying
Men suffer and stay silent.
When we are adult men, we can certainly question this socialisation.
Strength is when I sit down with my wife during a conflict and we talk it through until it is resolved—and on equal terms.