Coping with the daily grind
We can all get a bit down in the dumps, stressed or anxious from time to time. Financial concerns, work, relationship problems and other unexpected life events can take their toll. But if you start experiencing these feelings for more than a couple of weeks, or you find these negative emotions are interfering with your life, you should seek some help.
Depression and anxiety can affect men of any age. Depression will affect up to 1 in 8 men, while 1 in 4 men will experience anxiety in their lifetime. Worryingly, less than a third of men who have experienced a mental disorder in the past 12 months will seek help. What’s important to remember is that depression is an illness not a weakness, and like other illnesses there are treatments available.
A lot of guys are brought up to believe that toughing it out is the way to deal with these feelings. Some might resort to alcohol or drugs to help them cope, but both of these actually only serve to make the problem worse.
Some good ways of staying on top of your mental and emotional health are:
- Talking to someone close to you – like a family member or close friend
- Discussing how you’re feeling with your doctor
- Staying active – exercise is not only a great way to stay in good physical shape, it also keeps us mentally and emotionally happy and healthy
- Putting in the good stuff – a healthy diet is important in managing our emotional health. You should also limit alcohol intake and steer clear of drugs as these will only make things worse
You can always find help, for you or a friend in need, by calling:
If you would like some more information please visit Beyondblue or The Shed Online, which is a place for men to come together, get involved and talk about what's on their minds.