According to Western Sydney University’s Centre for Male Health, one in eight men will experience depression and one in five will experience anxiety at some stage in their life. A combination of social stigma, masculine expectation, and other factors contribute to hindering men’s mental wellbeing. While mental health challenges are a global issue, Australian men’s health presents a unique example.
A focus on strength through self-reliance can leave men vulnerable to a quiet struggle with mental health. Through Men’s Mental Health: Decoding the Silent Crisis, self-proclaimed “Mind Architect” Peter Crone presents a unique perspective. He proposes that the men’s internal wiring for performance can become a trap that fuels isolation and mental health concerns. Crone’s approach aims to dissolve the subconscious limitations and so access health optimization and authentic freedom.
The performance trap: Why men suffer in silence
Society expects male figures to be providers and protectors, and to perform these duties with unwavering dedication. In Crone’s mind, it is a kind of conditioning which has caused men to be hard-wired to perform—while this can drive achievement and resilience, it also means that men struggle to be vulnerable or admit that they’re facing difficulties. In many ways, men see it as a weakness to be honest about personal issues.
While this pressure is apparent on an emotional level, men can also experience physical consequences for their quiet struggles. As stress, anxiety, and depression build up, many men feel drained. If these feelings last long enough, they could even contribute to the development of disease. Without seeking help, this mental burden can significantly undermine men’s health.
It is Crone’s assertion that this continuous self-negation, this sense of not being good enough, can create a feeling of “dis-ease” in the body. A term often used in holistic wellness, dis-ease indicates a state of misalignment that could hinder the optimal physical and mental functioning of the body. It is this “dis-ease” which Crone aims to put to rest through his work.
“Dissolving” suffering: Crone’s unique approach
Aiming to go beyond the offerings of conventional therapy, Crone instead aims to “dissolve” the subconscious programming that drives self-sabotage and suffering. His approach asks participants to become aware of the limiting narratives and false identities that constrain them, and then recognize they’re not ACTUAL truths, and with that realization, discovering newfound freedom and space for relief and realization.
“You’re an expression of love and pure possibility,” Crone shared in a YouTube video with Dr. Rangan Chatterjee.
Crone’s methodology is developed to expose and dismantle ingrained, often invisible mental constructs that limit one’s potential. He feels that there are many stories that people tell themselves, often formed in childhood and based on misinterpretation, that become the operating systems of their lives. These self-limiting beliefs, which he calls the “10 Primal Prisons,” can trap men (all humans for that matter) in cycles of fear, inadequacy, and emotional isolation.
Insight into Crone’s insightful process
In order to complete the dissolution of one’s subconscious programming, Crone follows a signature three-step process developed over several years. Ultimately, his goal in doing so is to reveal and disperse the systems and constructs that cause limitations that so many men live within creating their vicious cycles.
- Identifying Core Lies: First, Crone works to pinpoint the fundamental subconscious “negations” which may manifest as stress, anxiety, or depression. Thoughts of not feeling safe, not belonging, or not being enough are examples of these “negations,” which Crone helps men to identify.
- Investigating Their Validity: After uncovering these “negations,” Crone helps his clients to rigorously question their validity. Though they may seem all-encompassing, he helps others to recognize that they were never a personal truth, but an interpretation that had been accepted as fact.
- Dissolving the Illusion: Through guided inquiry, which helps clients to witness the inherent falsehood of these beliefs, Crone dismantles these self-limiting constructs. In doing so, he frees his clients from their prisons and instantaneously introduces them to an entirely new world of freedom.
Direct and compassionate, Crone’s process of linguistic deconstruction frees the individual from any self-imposed limitations. This way, they are freed to reclaim their inherent worth and wellness as they look to the future.
“Rather than hoping and waiting for this aspirational future where we think we’re going to be happy,” Crone stated in the YouTube video, “what about if you could just consider the possibility of being happy today?”
Beyond the mind: Somatic release and health optimisation
Though Crone’s work is largely centered on mental health, he also recognizes the connection between mental state and physical well-being. He champions the concept of a “mind-body continuum,” which suggests that psychological constructs and emotions are precursors to physical results. As such, tension, anxiety, and suppressed emotion are not confined to the mind but could have physical effects on the body.
When Crone helps a man to discover and integrate a personal belief, he can see a weight come off his shoulders, or a tension in his body relax. He sees a physical stress associated with false identity, whose release is crucial for creating change that lasts. If the mind understands but the body does not respond, Crone feels that he has not yet succeeded in his liberative goal. As such, Crone takes a holistic approach that incorporates both mental and physical wellness for genuine health optimization.
How Crone works to address mental health crises
The rise of mental health challenges in male populations, particularly in Australia, necessitates a proactive response. In his own work, Crone aims to be a part of that solution by addressing the internal architecture of suffering. By providing key insights into men’s wellness, he hopes to empower men to achieve the following goals:
- Break the Silence: Recognize that vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness, that seeking support is a sign of courage, rather than some personal failing.
- Reclaim Authentic Self-Worth: Everyone has a “not good enough” narrative, but it must be set aside. In doing so, men can avoid the self-imposed pressures that cause isolation.
- Master Emotional Resilience: Freed from internal struggles, men can develop tools that help them to navigate life’s challenges with real resilience, rather than bottling up their personal struggles.
- Optimize Holistic Health: By uncovering links between mental well-being and physical vitality, men can build a new lifestyle that supports both aspects of personal wellness.
- Find True Freedom: When one experiences life without subconscious limitations, they find new opportunities for peace, vitality, and possibility. These burdens may be difficult to shake, but the impact of their release is incredibly profound.
Seeking hope through wellness
For those who struggle with the weight of unspoken expectations, a sense of inadequacy, and a battle against their own mind, Crone aims to be a beacon of hope. By revealing and dissolving the beliefs that limit so many men, they can move from a state of “dis-ease” to true wellness. To explore Crone’s philosophy further, explore his work on his official website.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. If you are seeking medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider.
Switzer staff were not involved in production of this article
