Just Standing Here: Strategies for the Emotionally Constipated Man
Johnson LCSW, Barry D.
Synopsis "Just Standing Here: Strategies for the Emotionally Constipated Man"
How are you feeling? Just Standing Here is for the man who's been told he doesn't "get it" when it comes to emotions. You aren't sure how to process your own feelings, let alone the feelings of the people you love. Maybe a partner has accused you of not listening, not being present — of being "invalidating" when you're simply trying to offer solutions. Or maybe you get defensive at the slightest look or perceived criticism, then feel terrible about it later, when you finally take time for some self-reflection. In this book, you'll learn where that comes from and how the stories you tell yourself are probably incomplete, or even wildly inaccurate. Just Standing Here draws on the author's twenty-five years as a therapist — in state prisons, on military bases, and now in private practice. Part memoir, part field guide, it blends stories from his own marriage and childhood with real case vignettes (names changed), practical strategies from the therapy room, and a few Star Trek and Seinfeld references doing more emotional heavy lifting than you'd expect. After a few hundred thousand years of evolution, you'd think we'd have this emotion thing figured out by now. Guess what? Many of us struggle — some mightily. But we can do better. Just Standing Here is a primer on why men struggle with emotions, with real strategies that can help. Inside, you'll learn how to: Identify emotions before they turn messy Replace avoidance with curiosity and connection Let go of resentment without feeling like you caved Communicate more clearly with partners, kids, and the people you care about Move from survival mode to presence Channel the best of Spock and George Costanza