Man Beats Anxiety Through Knitting, Inspires Others

When anxiety started taking over his life, Sohail picked up an unexpected tool for healing: knitting needles.

What started as a simple hobby to calm his racing thoughts turned into something much bigger. Now, the self-taught knitter is inspiring countless others to question their assumptions about who can knit and why it matters.

"When people find out I knit, it makes them question their stereotypes and assumptions a little bit," Sohail explains. His presence in knitting circles has encouraged other men who've been quietly practicing the craft to step out of the shadows.

Knitting gave Sohail more than just scarves and sweaters. The repetitive motion and focused attention required for each stitch created a meditative space where his anxiety couldn't follow.

The craft became his daily anchor, a way to work through difficult emotions without words. Each completed project represented not just hours of work, but hours of peace reclaimed from worry.

Sunny's Take

What makes Sohail's story special isn't just that he knits. It's that he's doing it openly, showing other men that seeking creative outlets for mental health isn't weakness but wisdom. His willingness to challenge old ideas about "men's work" versus "women's work" creates space for everyone to explore what actually helps them heal.

The ripples extend beyond knitting itself. When one person breaks free from limiting stereotypes, it gives others permission to do the same, whether that's through crafting, dancing, teaching, or any other pursuit society says doesn't fit their gender.

Sohail's needles are doing double duty: they're creating beautiful handmade pieces while unraveling outdated ideas about masculinity, one stitch at a time.