November is Movember
Welcome To A Helping Hand Counseling Center
"It's like your brain keeps switching between30 different channels and somebody else has the remote." ~ Brett Thornhill
We are dedicated to helping individuals and families achieve wellness by living healthier lives. Our work is driven by our commitment to promote mental health as a critical part of overall wellness, including prevention for all, early identification and intervention for those at risk, integrated health, behavioral health and other services for those who need them, and recovery as a goal.
Maybe it started off as No Shave November and later became known as Movember. Maybe it started off as Movember and later became known as No Shave November. Maybe it's Maybelline...Yeah, definitely not Maybelline.
During the month of November there are a lot of different mental health campaigns that raise awareness for their cause, and all are equally just as important. AHHCC is highlighting Movember this month in order to bring awareness to the stigma surrounding men's healthcare/lack thereof. Movember is a movement that started in 2003 with 30 members and has grown to over 6 million members.Movember's primary cause is to raise awareness of men's health issues and has funded over 1,250 men's health projects across 20 countries. If you or a man you know is struggling with their health, mental or otherwise, the Movember movement can help.
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Men are less likely than women to seek help for depression, substance abuse, and stressful life events due to a societal stigma that we have against men asking for help.
We have this notion that men need to be strong and strong men don't cry.Strong men don't feel.Strong men keep themselves together no matter what.Strong men are stable.Stability does not correlate with vulnerability (is the stigma).
But that's only half the story.
You can be strong and still be vulnerable.You can be strong and still ask for help.You can be strong and ball your eyes out at the same time.
Ok, so let's break its down: Strength. What is it?If you Google "strength" you get a slew of definitions, but here are theones I really want to focus on:
- the capacity of an object or substance to withstand great force or pressure.
- the emotional or mental qualities necessary in dealing with situations or events that are distressing or difficult.
- a good or beneficial quality or attribute of a person or thing.
- a person or thing perceived as a source of mental or emotional support.
Strength, in the context of your physical and mental/emotional health is knowing when something is off or wrong and seeking help. Know what to look for. For many men, depression often goes undiagnosed because men are more likely to report feelings of fatigue, irritability, and loss of interest in work/hobbies rather than feelings of worthlessness or sadness.Also, crying is okay.Crying is an expression of distress, pain, sorrow, fear, grief, etc.Crying is not an expression of weakness.
Men are also less likely to be diagnosed with or seek help for an eating disorder. More than 4x as many men than women commit suicide. Risk factors include social isolation, substance abuse, unemployment, military-related trauma, genetic predisposition, and other mood disorder. Low testosterone levels are also correlated with depression, stress, and mood swings among adult men.
Men and women may experience different symptoms and behaviors, though they can develop most of the same mental disorders and conditions.
Symptoms to pay attention to in men:Escapist behavior, such as spending a lot of time at work or on sportsPhysical symptoms, such as headaches, digestive problems, and painMisuse of alcohol and/or drugsControlling, violent or abusive behaviorAnger, irritability, or aggressiveness (inappropriate anger)Risky behavior, such as reckless drivingNoticeable changes in mood, energy level, or appetiteDifficulty concentrating, feeling restless, or on edge
If you feel like you've been "off" or you've noticed a change in your mood and behaviors, click the link for "mental health screening" for anonymous preliminary testing.
Take a Self-Test
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