A Lifestyle Medicine Approach for Mental Health for Men
We are told time and time again that if we live well, eat well, and look after ourselves, we can enjoy lengthening lives with increasingly robust health.
Without these good habits we all know, we run a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes, cardiac disease, stroke, cancer, and a host of other chronic conditions.
While there is no substitute for good mental health care, when you're struggling with behavioral health issues, your lifestyle really does affect how you feel, and you can become your own best mental health ally by taking the first step toward a healthy lifestyle. If you're not sure where to begin, Marshall Lifestyle Medicine has the answers.
Let’s examine some factors that an optimal health plan can assist with...
Anxiety
59% of men say they have been anxious for at least several days in the past two weeks.
Anxious about:
- 40% Money
- 35% Personal Life
- 12% Work
- 10% News/World Events
How to “tame” anxiety: Observe your mind’s tendencies from a distance. Get outside of yourself and view with a sense of interest.
- Start by noticing how you think about anxiety. Do you greet it with guilt or embarrassment? Do you resent the way your mind works?
- Greet it with curiosity. Try Less “I hate that my mind works this way!” and more “I wonder what makes me think like this?”
- Acknowledge that your feelings are valid, but that doesn’t make them factual. What we feel is not who we are. Replace “I am an anxious person” with “I am someone who experiences anxiety.”
- Words men use to describe their emotional state: Hopeless, angry, frustrated, disconnected, useless, overwhelmed, powerless, out of control.
Depression
54% of men have felt depressed for at least several days in the past two weeks.
Depression in men is not always about feeling sad. Men often exhibit different emotions and behaviors than do women.
- Irritable
- Short fused
- Loss of appetite of overeating
- Loss of interest in hobbies
- Isolating from others
- Decreased libido
95% of men believe that mental health is just as important as – if not more important than – physical health.
Older men place more value on mental health than physical health.
A healthy lifestyle physically and mentally is key to a long, healthy life, and is attainable. Success may require some thoughtful trial and error, but don't give up! We can assist you and have seen all kinds of patients at all ages make amazing changes, and you can, too.
Here are some secrets of success:
- Make mental health a priority
- Have a purpose in life
- Cry sometimes without guilt
- Make sleep their number one priority
- Express their emotions openly and often
- Exercise on regular basis
- Spend less than 2 hours a day on social media
- Have a family history of happy parents
Why you should consider a Lifestyle Concierge Health Plan
- Same day appointments
- Short wait times
- Longer, more effective appointments
- Flexible scheduling
- Decreased absenteeism
- Increased productivity
- 75% reduction in ER visits, hospitalizations, and UTC visits
The importance of talking for men
- Men who talk to other men regularly about their lives, their feelings, their experiences, their challenges report much better mental health.
The importance of sleep
- It takes intention and purposeful action to get adequate restorative sleep. All men need 8.5 to 9.2 hours of uninterrupted sleep nightly. To accomplish that goal requires an entire strategy and implementation schedule that has been thoughtfully developed.
Empathy
- Empathy is necessary when approaching a man that may be experiencing anxiety or depression. Most men are embarrassed that they feel the way they do and do not want to be “found out.” Men need a support system that shows understanding, love, and compassion.
Quality Healthcare
- Men often neglect both their physical and mental health. Concierge Medical Care from someone who specializes in Men’s Health can be life changing for a man.
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Caring for yourself. It’s not only about your own personal well-being. It’s about protecting the futures of everyone you love and care for.
Contact Marshall Lifestyle Medicine
Contact us online or give us a call at (859) 554-8486 to learn more!
