special feature
Raising Emotionally Healthy Boys
BY : Rebecca Eanes
“ Emotional disconnection is a poor life strategy .”
This is a quote by Michael C . Reichert , PhD in his book How to Raise a Boy . Yet , emotional disconnection is still what we so often require of boys . He says , “ With masculine conventions still policed vigorously , most boys learn to keep their feelings private and to suppress and override them . With the exception of anger , boys often lose touch with how they feel . Cold showers , hazing rituals , bullying , and tests of courage have historically reinforced emotional disconnection .” Suppressing emotions has a devastating effect on mental and physical health .
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