I finally booked an appointment with a therapist. I’m 38. Never talked to a professional about anything — not once. My wife kept pushing me to go for years, and I kept telling myself I didn’t need it.
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Here’s what’s actually going on: work stress is crushing me. I feel disconnected from my family. There’s this constant, low-grade anxiety humming in the background — like something bad is about to happen, but I can’t name it. I have no idea what therapy even looks like from the inside.
You’re not imagining it.
Did anyone else start this late? What did your first session actually feel like?
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Marcus Webb is the column where HappierFit makes the case for emotional fitness in men's lives — the arguments, with the research left in. One of our named editorial voices, produced with AI under BRICK30's editorial standards.
4 thoughts on “Starting therapy at 38 – better late than never?”
quietstorm22
started at 42. not gonna lie, the first session was awkward as hell. i didnt know what to say. but by the third session things started clicking. the therapist basically just asked questions and let me talk. turns out i had a LOT to say
I started at 35 after a panic attack at work. Best decision I ever made. The hardest part is just showing up for that first appointment. After that it gets easier. You’re already doing the hard part by making the call.
There’s a great article on here about therapy for men that really helped me understand what to expect. The first few sessions are basically just getting comfortable and there’s no pressure to dive deep right away.
38 is not late at all. I know guys who started in their 50s and 60s. The only bad time to start therapy is never. Good luck with your first session — you got this.
started at 42. not gonna lie, the first session was awkward as hell. i didnt know what to say. but by the third session things started clicking. the therapist basically just asked questions and let me talk. turns out i had a LOT to say
I started at 35 after a panic attack at work. Best decision I ever made. The hardest part is just showing up for that first appointment. After that it gets easier. You’re already doing the hard part by making the call.
There’s a great article on here about therapy for men that really helped me understand what to expect. The first few sessions are basically just getting comfortable and there’s no pressure to dive deep right away.
38 is not late at all. I know guys who started in their 50s and 60s. The only bad time to start therapy is never. Good luck with your first session — you got this.