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Talking about mental health and getting help for mental health issues wasn’t always as accepted as it is now.
If you were married to someone who was old school and didn’t think anyone really needed help for mental health issues, would you be offended if a friend criticized your wife’s opinion while you were looking for a therapist? Or would you simply agree with the friend?
In today’s story, one friend didn’t mean to criticize another friend’s wife, but when he told his own wife what he said, she made him wonder if he said the wrong thing.
Let’s read the whole story.
I’m a 37M and have a 37M friend who I’ve known since we were 5 years old.
We drifted in and out of touch through our friendship but got back in touch 4 years ago and have not lost it ever since.
He lives in a different country so we don’t meet in-person as often, but we have a podcast together, went to each other’s weddings etc.
He has made his mental health a priority.
Mental health was not really something we thought of much when growing up, just a sign of the times and where we grew up.
In the past 10 years or so though, I’ve been very vocal about getting help, and talking about mental health, opening up etc.
He was always very closed off about this but last week he finally opened up, asking if I knew a therapist, saying he was going through a terrible time mentally and needed help.
I loved that he did that, and was happy to chat.
His friend’s wife isn’t supportive of therapy.
During our chat, he said his wife is not supportive of him seeking help at all. She is ‘old-school’ and believes he needs to ‘toughen up’, ‘be a man’ and all that nonsense.
I haven’t met her much and don’t know her too well but I did say “That’s unfortunate to hear, and not very supportive”.
He agreed.
When I told my wife about it, she said I was an AH for saying that, and for judging her without knowing her reasons. She also said I was rude to him for saying that about his wife when I don’t know her that well.
AITA?
He didn’t say anything very rude. He just tried to empathize with his friend.
Does Reddit think his wife overreacted, or was he really being rude? Let’s read the comments.
He only told the truth.
His wife is wrong. Actually, both wives are wrong.
She needs to look in the mirror.
His comments were based on what his friend said.
Being supportive of his friend is not a bad thing.
They all need therapy.
If you thought that was an interesting story, check out what happened when a family gave their in-laws a free place to stay in exchange for babysitting, but things changed when they don’t hold up their end of the bargain.