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3 Mental Health Resources to Practice Self-Care for Men
Have you ever felt like you just wanted to be alone?
Or You just want to indulge in your favorite comfort foods while watching your favorite TV show or movie?
Maybe you just want to play video games all day?
Although it may not appear to be so, all of this can be considered self-care. Even for men.
Self-care is the moment you choose to follow yourself by doing what you want and what you know will help you feel better, not only physically but also mentally. It is self-care when you allocate a time where you will ignore the stressors you have and just focus on relaxing and making your mental health feel better.
Why do Men Need Mental Health Self-Care?
As we progress on raising mental health awareness, it sometimes becomes gender specific, where it is more prominent for women to take care of and recognize their mental health. Unfortunately, there are still a lot of people who have a stigma against men’s mental health.
Did you know that, according to Mental Health America, there are 6 million males who are affected by depression every year? And men are less likely than women to seek help for any mental health problems because of social norms, their reluctance to talk, and their downplaying of symptoms.
This is why it is important for men to practice mental health self-care too, because they are not free from mental health struggles either. Men, too, have mental health problems.
How to Start Men’s Mental Health Self-Care?
Maybe you’re wondering now, how can we practice mental health self-care when all of the resources available are mostly for women? Well, don’t worry, we got you! Here are five ways for you to practice mental health self-care.
1. Recite affirmations every day.
Yes, affirmations are for men too! Remember when Christian Bale from American Psycho was in front of the mirror and kept on complimenting himself? That’s what I’m talking about. (Not the being a serial killer part) Here are some lines you could use: "I am worthy of love."; "I balance my masculine and feminine energies."; and "All I need is within me right now.".
2. Read this book: Mind-Body Workbook for Stress
Mind-Body Workbook for Stress helps readers learn and practice exercises for detaching from painful thoughts and feelings and helping their bodies relax and let go of unconscious tension. In this resting state, the body and mind can let go of stress and heal naturally. Readers also learn fast-acting mindfulness skills for dissolving stress whenever desired without needing to maintain a long-term meditative practice. The one-page assessments, worksheets, and activities in this book make it easy for anyone to develop their capacity to withstand and relax under stress.
3. To learn more about how to practice self-care for your mental health, read this Self-Care Guide for Men we provide in our shop.
This Self-Care Guide for Men is the perfect resource for anyone who wants to learn how to take better care of themselves. It is filled with tips and advice on everything from exercise and diet to relaxation and stress management, this guide provides everything you need to create a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
At the end of the day, no matter what your gender is or what your orientation is, you are still a human. A human who does not only struggle with physical health but also with mental health. We all need to practice self-care. We all need to end the mental health stigma and raise mental health awareness.
References:
Infographic: Mental health for men. Mental Health America. (n.d.). Retrieved September 9, 2022, from https://www.mhanational.org/infographic-mental-health-men
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