Resources

 
Men Blog
 
 
 
M
Reprinted from (http://www.menshealthresourcecenter.com/mental-health-well-being/)

Mental Health & Well-being

Depression is under-diagnosed in men. Men are over four times more likely than women to commit suicide. Overall, women are about twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with a mental health issue. But that statistic tells only a small part of the story. Just as the body changes with age, so does the mind. You may find that you’re misplacing things or you’re just not as on top of things as you used to be. You may experience memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life caused by dementia. As you age, you may also start to feel stressed or depressed due to the loss of a loved one, health problems or financial difficulties.  Stress may cause you to lose energy, fail to eat enough or isolate yourself.  Proper diet management and physical exercise can be the key to a positive outlook and staying emotionally balanced! Why? To start with, men make about two-thirds as many healthcare provider visits as women do. And even when we do see a healthcare provider, we’re often reluctant to talk about what’s really bothering us, especially if it has anything to do with feelings or mood. Plus, most men don’t realize that some of the physical symptoms we may experience —things like chronic pain and digestive problems — could actually be caused by a mental health issue such as depression, anxiety or stress. Then there are the men who know (or at least strongly suspect) that they have a problem, but suffer in silence, afraid to admit they need help. They may be afraid others will find out their secret and they’ll be perceived as weak or wimpy or that they’ll lose their job. The following are common types of emotional health conditions found in men. Browse through each type to find out information such as symptoms, treatment options and prevention tips for each condition. WHAT AFFECTS YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? Your mental health can be influenced by a number of factors, including:

 

 

 

  • Your genes (some mental health issues run in families)
  • Divorce, separation, or the breakup of a long-term relationship
  • The death of a loved one
  • Losing your job, or job changes
  • Going through bankruptcy
  • Moving to a new home
  • Coping with a natural disaster
  • Caring for an aging parent
  • The birth of your child
  • Being diagnosed and living with a serious illness, or suffering a major injury
  • Serving in the military, especially in combat

Mental health and your outlook on life can also change without any obvious cause. Sometimes lots of little things build up and the combination can be extremely harmful. THE BIG QUESTION: AM I NORMAL? We all have our ups and downs. But most of us wonder at least one time in our life whether what we’re feeling is normal or whether we need professional help. Unfortunately, there’s no single answer that’s right for everyone. However, here’s a good rule of thumb: You need assistance if you’ve been having symptoms every day for more than two weeks and if those symptoms keep you from enjoying life, performing at work or maintaining relationships with friends, your partner or your children.  Untreated mental health conditions can get worse and may have serious consequences. You might, for example, damage your physical health. Or you could increase your risk of doing something to harm yourself or others or of committing suicide. Fortunately with the right diagnosis and the right treatment, most mental health problems are easily resolved and you’ll return to feeling content with life and be better able to cope with its challenges. MENTAL HEALTH RELATION TO SEXUAL HEALTH Being diagnosed with depression or feeling stress and anxiety can often cause a loss of interest in sex and intimacy. If this is the case, you might like to find other ways of being physically close and intimate with your partner, like spending time hugging, kissing and touching instead. This may also be reassuring for your partner. There are many advantages to being sexually active which are physical, psychological, emotional and relational in nature. Endorphins (chemicals in the brain) are released when we are sexually active. They can elevate our mood and act as destressors in our bodies. In the context of a relationship, being sexually active can help to maintain a couple’s connection, which can be very important when one partner has a diagnosis of a serious illness, such as cancer. It may be difficult for some people to discuss sexual health with others, even their partners, as it is a sensitive topic. But for you, and your partner, its important that you bring up sexual side effects with your provider, just as you would any other side effect. Asking questions such as:

  1. Will there be any side effects of this treatment?
  2. What are the long term effects of this treatment/procedure?

Mental health is very important to your overall health and well-being. Eating a well balanced diet will keep your brain healthy and functioning well for years to come. Ways in which to help promote that include:

  • Omega- three fatty acids found in fish oils help prevent mental decline. These can be found in cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring, and sardines. Omega-three fatty acids are also found in nuts and oils like canola, flaxseed , olive , and peanut . Nuts also contain vitamin E, which is a potent antioxidant.
  • Eat plenty of green leafy vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, eggplants, and dark fruits such as berries, oranges and grapes. These have high levels of antioxidants, which protect the brain from free radical formation.
  • Supplements like vitamins B-12; C, E, and folate may also help maintain a healthy brain.
  • Avoid saturated fats and high cholesterol foods.

For More Information visit: Mental Health.gov Men’s Health Network

 

 

 

National Fatherhood Initiative

National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse

National Healthy Marriage Resource Center

Mens Health Network

MenAimingHigher

Feeling the Strain

MenandDepression

Health Manual

____________________

Men and Mental Health

Overview

Many mental illnesses affect both men and women however men may be less likely to talk about their feelings and seek help. Recognizing the signs that someone may have a mood or mental disorder is the first step toward getting treatment and living a better life.

Warning Signs

Men and women experience many of the same mental disorders but their willingness to talk about their feelings may be very different. This is one of the reasons that their symptoms may be very different as well. For example, some men with depression or an anxiety disorder hide their emotions and may appear to be angry or aggressive while many women will express sadness. Some men may turn to drugs or alcohol to try to cope with their emotional issues. Sometimes mental health symptoms appear to be physical issues. For example, a racing heart, tightening chest, ongoing headaches, and digestive issues can be a sign of an emotional problem.

Warning signs include

  • Anger, irritability or aggressiveness
  • Noticeable changes in mood, energy level, or appetite
  • Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
  • Difficulty concentrating, feeling restless, or on edge
  • Increased worry or feeling stressed
  • A need for alcohol or drugs
  • Sadness or hopelessness
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Feeling flat or having trouble feeling positive emotions
  • Engaging in high-risk activities
  • Ongoing headaches, digestive issues, or pain
  • Obsessive thinking or compulsive behavior
  • Thoughts or behaviors that interfere with work, family, or social life
  • Unusual thinking or behaviors that concern other people
 
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/men-and-mental-health/index.shtml
 
____________________________
 
Men You Have Help
 
Tribulation does not carry all power, all power is in the name of Jesus Christ.  You can use the name of Jesus and speak to the “mountain” of your problems, situations, thoughts and they will move. Men you can “speak things” into existence according to the scripture.

 

IF YE ABIDE IN ME, AND MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU, YE SHALL ASK WHAT YE WILL, AND IT SHALL BE DONE UNTO YOU. ST JOHN 15:6

 

   The scripture says that if we “abide in him” we can ask what we will and it would be done for us. That is good news, but we must remember, God will answer our prayer only when he feels the time is ready. In other words, He will answer your prayer in his own time. We can not take the Word of God and try to boss God around with it. We must use humility with the Word of God, and to remain mindful of the fact that he knows best.

 

   Our job is to speak to our “mountain” not to figure out how long it will take before we see results. The scripture does not tell us how many times we will have to speak to the “mountain” before it moves. We are just told to speak to it. In other words, I do not know how many times you will have to speak to your mountain of financial problems, trouble or sickness before you see results, but you must speak to it until it moves. Whatever your mountain is, you speak to it based on Gods ability not on what you see. Apostle Robert L Howard/IGBATTMHO

 
Physical Address 6475 New Hampshire Avenue Suite 350P Hyattsville, MD 20783*Mailing Address – P.O. Box 7432 Silver Spring, MD 20910*Phone: 301 755-5463 * Copyright  2018 IGBATTMHO* All Rights Reserved* Email: igbatt1@aol.com*Disclaimer*