MEN DON'T TALK - A Muslim Therapist on What’s Really Happening to Men

Muslim men are struggling with anxiety, depression, loneliness, addiction and pressures that often remain completely hidden from the people around them. But why do so many men suffer in silence — and what should Muslims actually do about it? In this episode of OnGuard, Dr Hamza Andreas Tzortzis sits down with Ahmed Tomal of Tawfiq Therapy for a frank discussion about the mental health challenges facing Muslim men today. They explore anxiety, depression, loneliness, addiction, relationships, suicidal thoughts, emotional suppression and the difficulty many men have in asking for help. Ahmed also breaks down what therapy can genuinely offer — while warning against uncritically importing assumptions and ideologies from modern therapeutic culture into an Islamic framework. Can a man be strong and still admit he is struggling? How should husbands communicate when stress begins damaging their marriages? What does useful therapy actually look like? And how can Islam, family, community and professional support work together before somebody reaches breaking point? A candid and practical conversation about what Muslim men may be going through behind closed doors — and why simply saying “I’m fine” may not be enough. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:30 Meet Ahmed Tomal 03:39 Can mental-health language be weaponised? 06:34 Why focus on Muslim men? 07:12 What Muslim men are struggling with 09:33 Depression and suicidal ideation 10:44 How anxiety is treated 15:55 Exposure-response prevention and Prophet Musa 22:06 Hamza’s experience with boxing anxiety 27:32 Childhood experiences and coping mechanisms 34:39 Suppressed emotions, anger and relationships 47:53 Understanding depression 59:19 Responding directly to suicidal thoughts 1:00:08 What happens during therapy? 1:08:00 Therapy, ideology and Islamic values 1:12:42 Suicide rates in Muslim communities 1:16:59 Is “toxic masculinity” the right term? 1:24:46 Islamic guidance on emotions and grief 1:30:52 Why Muslim men avoid seeking help 1:37:48 Final advice: hold on and seek support Support the show 🌟 Support Our Mission 🌟   To extend the reach of our impactful content, kindly consider making a contribution (www.islam21c.com/guardians). Your support helps us make a difference.   👇 Stay Connected & Never Miss an Update 👇   1️⃣ Subscribe: Hit the 'Subscribe' button and don't forget to ring the 🔔 bell, ensuring you'll be the first to know when we upload fresh content.   2️⃣ Social Media: Stay up-to-date and join the conversation on our social media platforms:   📸 Instagram www.instagram.com/islam21c 👍 Facebook www.facebook.com/islam21c 🐦 Twitter www.twitter.com/islam21c 🗨️ Telegram t.me/islam21c   Thank you for your continued support and engagement.