Hey. Listen. It’s been a year. Ugh. What a year. And you know what? The world was crazy and stressful before. There was too much to do and not enough time to do it. And then Covid happened. We all know how difficult and challenging this past year has been. It’s affected each and every one of us. Without getting too lost in gender stereotypes, I can say I’ve seen a lot of men in my office (or more recently, via telehealth) that are feeling pretty darned stressed and don’t have a lot of ways to cope or manage. Lots to be responsible for – family, work, finances, and all the rest. Gotta hold it together. No matter what. So the pressure builds inside. And builds and builds. And like any over-pressured system (think plumbing) that strain will at some point find a release – whether you like it or not. And the results often aren’t so pretty.
Listen. Men aren’t unique in having a hard time right now. For certain. This is not my point. What I am saying is that a lot of men haven’t been taught how to process emotions all that well, and the reality of that has never been so apparent. I have these discussions every day. It needs to be talked about. Vented.
So I’ve put together a few resources below that have been helpful to men in my practice over the years in dealing with and managing stress. The first is something I wrote a few years ago trying to demystify the idea of mindfulness. Given the current world we are living in, I think it deserves a revival. A few websites follow that, with more tips and ideas about managing stress. The final link is Psychology Today, which lists most every practicing therapist, counselor, and mental health professional out there. Super easy to filter by town, insurance coverage, or focus area.
But the best place of all to start is with a conversation with your health provider. Dealing with the stressors in our life is a vitally important piece of any health care conversation. I know it’s not always so easy or comfortable to talk about. But rest assured that we are all feeling similarly, and the power of unburdening yourself with a simple discussion is not to be underestimated. Let’s keep the conversation going…for all of our collective health.
Further reading and info about how to deal:
https://naturalnutmeg.com/being-a-mindful-man-in-a-crazy-world/
https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/heading-out-on-your-own-day-30-how-to-manage-stress/
https://headsupguys.org/practical-tips/stress-management/
https://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/20-science-backed-ways-reduce-stress/