Most people notice when someone’s physically unwell, but mental health struggles in men often go unnoticed or get brushed off as being no big deal.
While everyone has rough patches, certain behaviour changes might point to something deeper going on. If you notice these changes happening, he may be struggling with his mental health and in need of some help.
1. His sleep pattern becomes chaotic.
He’s up at 3am watching random YouTube videos, then sleeping through important meetings. Weekends disappear into marathon sleeping sessions, yet he’s always exhausted. His bedroom light stays on until dawn, but he claims he’s “just not tired.” The line between day and night stops existing in his world. Sleep becomes both his escape and his enemy as weeks blur into one.
2. His living space falls apart.
The guy who used to be reasonably tidy now lives in growing chaos. Clean clothes stay in the laundry basket while dirty ones carpet the floor. Empty takeaway containers build up beside his bed. His car becomes a rubbish bin on wheels. The mess grows around him while his energy to tackle it shrinks. His space transforms into a physical representation of his internal state.
3. His grooming habits slip away.
Showers become optional, not daily. The same shirt appears in meeting after meeting. His beard grows wild rather than styled. That gym bag starts gathering dust by the door. Simple self-care tasks feel like climbing mountains, so they just don’t happen. The mirror becomes something to avoid rather than face.
4. His eating habits become extreme.
Food becomes just fuel, or nothing at all. He skips meals then binges on junk at midnight. The fridge stays empty while delivery apps get daily workouts. Cooking feels impossibly complicated, so toast becomes dinner for the fifth night running. Nourishment becomes an afterthought in a mind too busy battling itself.
5. His phone starts gathering cobwebs.
Messages sit unanswered for days. Group chats get muted indefinitely. Phone calls go straight to voicemail. The simple act of typing “I’m good, thanks” feels overwhelming, so he just stops responding. Digital silence becomes his new normal. Each notification feels like another demand he can’t meet.
6. His anger comes out of nowhere.
Small inconveniences trigger massive reactions. Traffic jams cause meltdowns. A slow internet connection sparks rage. The guy who used to laugh things off now slams doors over minor setbacks. His fuse gets shorter while his explosions get bigger. Every frustration becomes a release valve for deeper pain.
7. His decisions become impulsive.
Suddenly, he’s buying things he can’t afford. Random road trips happen at 2am. New hobbies appear and disappear weekly. His bank account swings between extremes while he chases temporary highs. Each purchase promises happiness that never arrives. The rush of decision-making replaces the void of feeling nothing.
8. His jokes turn darker.
Humour becomes a mask for pain. Self-deprecating jokes stop being funny and start feeling real. Dark thoughts slip into casual conversation. His laughter sounds hollow, and his smile never quite reaches his eyes. Behind every joke lies a truth he’s not ready to face. Each punchline carries a cry for help.
9. His substance use increases quietly.
Source: Unsplash That after-work beer becomes four or five. The weekend drinks start on Wednesday. Empty bottles pile up in secret spots. What used to be social drinking becomes solo sessions. The line between unwinding and escaping gets blurry. Every morning brings promises he’ll break by sunset.
10. His work starts slipping.
Deadlines get missed. Emails pile up unread. Simple tasks take twice as long. The guy known for reliability starts dropping balls left and right. His focus scatters while his motivation disappears into thin air. His reputation crumbles one missed deadline at a time.
11. His words become weapons.
He starts picking fights over nothing. Sarcastic comments cut deeper than before. Every conversation turns into a chance to push people away. His words become walls between him and anyone trying to help. The harder people try to reach him, the sharper his tongue becomes.
12. His interest in sex vanishes.
Physical intimacy feels like too much effort. He stops initiating, stops responding to advances. What used to bring connection now feels like another task he can’t handle. Touch becomes something to avoid rather than enjoy. The thought of being vulnerable with another person feels impossible.
13. His social circle shrinks fast.
Every invitation gets a “maybe next time.” Friend groups stop including him in plans. His world gets smaller as he convinces himself he’s better off alone. Isolation becomes both his prison and his comfort zone. and each declined invitation builds another brick in his wall of solitude.
14. His future talk disappears.
Plans beyond next week stop existing. Career goals gather dust, and reams get replaced by just getting through each day. The guy who used to talk about tomorrow now barely mentions next weekend. His horizon shrinks to surviving today. The future becomes a luxury he can’t afford to think about.
