Dealing with Gynecomastia, the Emotional Effects
September 8th, 2011 Miguel A. Delgado Jr, MDYears ago, gynecomastia or male breasts, was not something that people talked about openly. In fact the term, gynecomastia is still unknown to many men who have the condition. It used to be that bald men suffered teasing and criticism for a condition they could not control. Now a day’s men are shaving their heads for what is a very popular look.
Due to media coverage and shows such as “Seinfeld”, male breasts have become a joke with many nicknames such as: man boobs, moobs, bitch tits etc. If it wasn’t hard enough to deal with years ago, today it is worse for the man with gynecomastia breasts, in becoming a public joke.
Many men discussing this issue on the popular website http://www.gynecomastia.org/ have stated that their girlfriends or wives do not find their extra breast tissue offensive at all. Having the gynecomastia breast is a very personal issue and for some it can be the extreme feeling of self hatred. This is such a tragedy when sometimes just having a good support system can make a huge difference.
Some men tried to hide their condition all through their teen years from not only their friends but also their family. They were too embarrassed to even address the issue. It is unfortunate though as many discovered that once they were able to share with their parents the humiliation it caused them, their parents only wanted to help them find a resolution. But then there are those that do not have the support and have to find their own way of coping. Sometimes therapy can make a difference, but for many the option of gynecomastia surgery can be a life changing event.
For those boys and men that do not find a good support system at home, Dr. Delgado recommends that they reach out to www.gynecomastia.org. This website has many different discussion boards with topics on all issues that men with breasts face. Anyone can become a member at no cost, and the support one receives from other men facing similar situations can be invaluable.
