Depression and masculinity

Recently, I disappeared for three months.

To be honest with you, I was really unwell and during this time I was able to reflect on many things and in particular: mental health for men.

The problem for us men is that we can't really communicate what we feel.
There is a kind of dissonance between masculinity and talking about one's well being or one's unwellness.

We pretty much bury everything and survive with what we have to endure.
We tell ourselves that if we share what we are feeling, we will be seen as "weak" and that is just not the way we operate.

So we don't say anything and we endure.

What is the solution?
No idea, I myself sometimes go through very difficult times, like at the beginning of this year.

But one thing I have noticed is that certain behaviors are shields against depression.
- physical exercise
- the sun
- meditation
- diet

If you're feeling down, if you don't have anyone to talk to, if you can't open up, I know how lonely you can feel, but one of the keys is in these behaviors.

Force yourself to exercise every day, if it's too hard, just go outside and walk for 30 minutes or so...
Force yourself, you need to do it, your body needs it, your mind needs it.

If you can get sunshine daily, early in the morning or late in the afternoon so as not to risk your health, get 15 to 25 minutes of sunshine to replenish your vitamin D.

Every day, take ten minutes to relax.
Close your eyes, breathe in slowly and out slowly. Breath in very deeply and as slowly as possible.
Focus only on your breathing.

Eat well, when we don't feel well, we tend to eat anything. You are what you eat. If you eat badly, you will get fatter, feel worse, simply be worse. Food is one of the key points to get better.

These 4 behaviors are your shields.
They are also the starters of a virtuous circle that keeps you in a virtuous loop.

These are 4 behaviors that will make you feel good every day, to be included in your schedule WHATEVER the day.

Take care