BLACK MEN vs. THE DOCTOR
An in depth look at the reasons men, particularly black men don't seek professional medical care. This is why you need to go when needed. This is my experience. LOVE-PEACE-RECIPROCITY
MINDSOULBODYHEALTH
C.Colson
6/21/20264 min read
Black Men vs. The Doctor
I am guilty. I have neglected to seek help, even when I knew better. I went for years being undiagnosed. I was suffering from unresolved post traumatic stress and a back injury. As a child I was severely asthmatic. I was homebound for summers at a time. Inside looking out. So many visits to the ER. My father, being a military man with family privileges opted to have my care administered by a base physician. Needless to say when I was 6 years old I was strapped to an exam table. I remember trying to tell the doctor he was hurting me. Either he did not hear me or did not care. After that I developed white coat syndrome. After that I only sought help when I was forced to. My back injury happened when I was 24 while working for an airline. For a long time I could actually compartmentalize my pain. Mental Spiritual or Physical pain. At the time I was moving to NYC. The excitement had a deadening effect on the pain but we are only human,right and all of us have a breaking point.
My breaking point was not immediate or explosive. It is gradual , nuanced and almost insidious. Throw in not having insurance to the mindstate of hating the doctor and you have a crisis on your hands. I self medicated but that led to addiction. Eventually I had to seek professional help to sort out the underlying issue. It was a hard fight but I tell you God is good.. As a result I was able to reclaim my life, myself. Since then, I seek help if I need it. I manage because the consqence of neglecting yourself is death. This is a message to my brothers. Hopefully this post and my experiences will assist if you have had reservations about seeking professional help.
Too many men wait until something feels seriously wrong before they go to the doctor, and for Black men, that delay often comes from more than just “being busy.” It’s tied to trauma, mistrust, cost, stress, and a health system that has not always treated Black people fairly. [1][2][3]
Why many men avoid the doctor
For a lot of men, going to the doctor feels like admitting weakness, but that mindset can be deadly. Many grow up learning to push pain down, keep working, and ignore symptoms until they become emergencies. That habit is even heavier for Black men, who often carry added fear from bad past experiences, discrimination, and the stress of being dismissed or not believed. [1][2]
Some of the biggest reasons include:
- Trauma and mistrust from historical and present-day mistreatment in health care. [1][2]
- Cost and lack of insurance, which make routine visits feel out of reach. [4][3]
- Time, transportation, and work schedules that make appointments hard to keep. [4][5]
- Fear of bad news, because many people would rather not know than face a diagnosis. [4]
- Stigma around vulnerability, especially for men taught to “tough it out.” [6][7]
Why Black men are hit harder
Black men are often dealing with a double burden: the cultural pressure to stay strong and the real-world barriers that make health care harder to access. Research shows many Black Americans report negative experiences with doctors, including feeling pain was not taken seriously and having to speak up to get proper care. [2]
There are also larger structural issues involved. Black households are more likely to face poverty and lower insurance coverage, and that can mean fewer preventive visits, later diagnoses, and worse outcomes. Limited access to nearby doctors, lower health literacy, and ongoing discrimination all make regular care harder to maintain. [5][3]
What happens when men stay away
Skipping routine checkups doesn’t make problems disappear; it usually gives them time to grow. Conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol can stay quiet for years while damage builds in the background. By the time symptoms show up, the problem may already be serious. [4]
For Black men, delayed care can be especially dangerous because the risks of prostate cancer deaths, heart disease, stroke, and other chronic conditions are already higher in many communities. Preventive care is not about fear; it’s about catching problems early enough to treat them well. [4][3]
Why we need to go
Going to the doctor is not a sign of weakness. It is a form of protection, discipline, and self-respect. If you love your family, your goals, your money, and your future, then taking care of your body has to be part of the plan. [4]
Men need regular checkups because:
- Early detection saves lives. [4]
- Preventive care is cheaper than emergency care. [3]
- A doctor can catch silent problems before they become permanent damage. [4]
- Staying healthy helps you show up for your family, work, and long-term goals.
Final word
Black men deserve care that is respectful, affordable, and trustworthy, but we also have to stop waiting until the pain is unbearable. The move is not to prove toughness by avoiding the doctor; the move is to protect your life before it forces you to. [1][2][3]
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