A Lifestyle Medicine Approach for Mental Health for Men

Marshall Lifestyle Medicine • Dec 15, 2023

We are told time and time again that if we live well, eat well, and look after ourselves, we can enjoy lengthening lives with increasingly robust health.

A man focusing on his mental health outside near Lexington, Kentucky (KY)

Without these good habits we all know, we run a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes, cardiac disease, stroke, cancer, and a host of other chronic conditions.

While there is no substitute for good mental health care, when you're struggling with behavioral health issues, your lifestyle really does affect how you feel, and you can become your own best mental health ally by taking the first step toward a healthy lifestyle. If you're not sure where to begin, Marshall Lifestyle Medicine has the answers.

Let’s examine some factors that an optimal health plan can assist with...

Anxiety

59% of men say they have been anxious for at least several days in the past two weeks.

Anxious about:

40% Money
35% Personal Life
12% Work
10% News/World Events

How to “tame” anxiety: Observe your mind’s tendencies from a distance. Get outside of yourself and view with a sense of interest.

Start by noticing how you think about anxiety. Do you greet it with guilt or embarrassment? Do you resent the way your mind works?
Greet it with curiosity. Try Less “I hate that my mind works this way!” and more “I wonder what makes me think like this?”
Acknowledge that your feelings are valid, but that doesn’t make them factual. What we feel is not who we are. Replace “I am an anxious person” with “I am someone who experiences anxiety.”
Words men use to describe their emotional state: Hopeless, angry, frustrated, disconnected, useless, overwhelmed, powerless, out of control.

Depression

54% of men have felt depressed for at least several days in the past two weeks.

Depression in men is not always about feeling sad. Men often exhibit different emotions and behaviors than do women.

Irritable
Short fused
Loss of appetite of overeating
Loss of interest in hobbies
Isolating from others
Decreased libido

95% of men believe that mental health is just as important as – if not more important than – physical health.

Older men place more value on mental health than physical health.

A healthy lifestyle physically and mentally is key to a long, healthy life, and is attainable. Success may require some thoughtful trial and error, but don't give up! We can assist you and have seen all kinds of patients at all ages make amazing changes, and you can, too.

Here are some secrets of success:

Make mental health a priority
Have a purpose in life
Cry sometimes without guilt
Make sleep their number one priority
Express their emotions openly and often
Exercise on regular basis
Spend less than 2 hours a day on social media
Have a family history of happy parents

Why you should consider a Lifestyle Concierge Health Plan

Same day appointments
Short wait times
Longer, more effective appointments
Flexible scheduling
Decreased absenteeism
Increased productivity
75% reduction in ER visits, hospitalizations, and UTC visits

The importance of talking for men

Men who talk to other men regularly about their lives, their feelings, their experiences, their challenges report much better mental health.

The importance of sleep

It takes intention and purposeful action to get adequate restorative sleep. All men need 8.5 to 9.2 hours of uninterrupted sleep nightly. To accomplish that goal requires an entire strategy and implementation schedule that has been thoughtfully developed.

Empathy

Empathy is necessary when approaching a man that may be experiencing anxiety or depression. Most men are embarrassed that they feel the way they do and do not want to be “found out.” Men need a support system that shows understanding, love, and compassion.

Quality Healthcare

Men often neglect both their physical and mental health. Concierge Medical Care from someone who specializes in Men’s Health can be life changing for a man.

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Caring for yourself. It’s not only about your own personal well-being. It’s about protecting the futures of everyone you love and care for.