Author: Stuart Perkins
Somatic Trauma-Informed Life Coach
A Trauma-Informed Reflection
As Men’s Health Week approaches, we at Free of Trauma recognise that health goes beyond the physical. For many men, the unspoken toll of emotional pain, childhood trauma, and the weight of societal expectations often remains hidden beneath a brave face.
This week is not just a campaign—it is an invitation. An invitation for men to pause, to breathe, and to consider their wellbeing in all its forms: physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual.
Too often, men are told to “man up” or “get on with it.” These phrases, though common, can act as silencers—pressing down emotions that deserve air and compassion. Many of the men I work with, particularly those in high-pressure environments or self-employed roles, have spent years in what we call a functional freeze. They’re doing everything they can to provide, to endure, to push through—yet underneath, there’s exhaustion, numbness, or pain that has never been spoken aloud.
Mental Health Week 2025
This Men’s Health Week, I want to affirm this truth: it is not weakness to seek support; it is courage.
It is not indulgent to rest; it is necessary.
It is not shameful to feel; it is deeply human.
At Free of Trauma, my work is rooted in the body, the nervous system, and the quiet healing of stories long held inside. I support men in recognising the survival patterns they’ve lived with—fight, flight, freeze—and help them slowly, safely, come home to themselves.
This week, whether you are a man or someone who loves one, I invite you to ask:
What do I need that I’ve been ignoring?
Who might I speak to if I could do so without judgement?
What would it mean to honour my wellbeing, not just survive the day?
You are not broken.
You are not alone.
And healing is not only possible—it is your birthright.
