Mental health in men
A powerful habit to assist us is to develop a healthy and productive routine which is healthy for our human mind during these tough times.
“A topic that is not discussed enough is the growing prevalence of mental health issues in men, which includes depression and anxiety.”
This is according to local pharmacist Bradley Reddy.
“Dialogue around this is pertinent as men hardly acknowledge their problems let alone seek help. This might be due to social stigma whereby they feel they would compromise their masculinity. They might feel that they are not strong enough to be in control.”
Main causes of such health issues
• Social pressures
• Employment and financial stressors
• Physical health
• Substance abuse
• Traumatic life events
• Relationship problems
Most common mental health issues in men
Depression: This is notably less reported than it is in women. Signs that can be experienced include prolonged feelings of emptiness or loneliness, sleeping difficulties, always feeling tired despite regular sleep, alcohol and substance abuse and not having a lust nor interest in activities previously enjoyed they will also become socially withdrawn
Anxiety disorders: These include panic disorder, generalised anxiety disorder and social anxiety to name a few. Although signs and symptoms may differ in each condition most common that we could notice are irritability, restlessness with lack of sleep.
You might feel paranoid and fearful leading you to be tense. Occurrences of panic attacks and shortness of breath, heart palpitations and sweating.
When to seek help
The answer to this is when these problems start to affect our lives, such as our personal relationships, and abilities to do our daily duties including affecting performances in the workplace and parenting at home, when we feel hopelessly sad and alone for a prolonged period and find yourself not enjoying social interactions and previously loved hobbies, you develop a dependence on a substance such as alcohol or legal and illicit drugs to cope and when it starts to affect physical health.
What can I try and do to improve the situation and overcome my issues?
A powerful habit to assist us is to develop a healthy and productive routine that is healthy for our human mind during these tough times.
Exercise releases hormones in your brain called endorphins which help reduce stress and give an overall enhanced and improved feeling of well-being, eating healthy will ensure good nutrition as some nutrients and vitamins are essential for us to cope with the stress of today’s life, Sleep regularly and develop good sleeping habits.
Also finding a companion to talk to is an important outlet for processing our situations which might not feel rewarding at first but does help us offload a weight on our shoulders, this can include a friend, partner, work companion or family member.
If your situation is too difficult to talk to someone within your social circles professional help is available.
Where to find professional help
There a many accessible options to assist us in this matter; your GP can be approached who will be able to establish what kind of help you will require and can also be managed by certain medications.
You can make an appointment or might be referred to a trained psychologist, who helps assess your situation, help you understand it and provide insight into a solution. There are also many helpful support groups, which you can try and research to see what is available in your area.
Being part of these communities has been proven to help many over time and to cope with our daily lives. Also, a service is offered by the South African Depression and Anxiety Group by calling 0800 567 567.
Men of today should not delay or hesitate to tackle this burden which not only affects us but our loved ones around us as well.
Seek help to improve your situation and make yourself stronger. Develop a healthy lifestyle, conquer the day and give yourself the respect you deserve men of South Africa.
