To all the men out there... just stop for a minute, take a breath and count to 10.
Doing this may be uncomfortable, and often times, out of the norm for many men, but
today we are facing an epidemic that has changed our normalcy. It has locked us in our homes, socially isolated and distanced us from friends and family, put our community in financial chaos and affected so many loved ones. COVID-19 has made us feel like we’ve lost control of our day to day lives and given us uncertainty for our future.
Men tell me all the time, “My role as man is to protect and provide for my family; to keep them safe from harm.”
So many times, I hear in session “I’m so stressed. What can I do?”
“It’s too much, I have no control. If I don’t do what I expected from myself, I failed.”
For men, failed expectations create stress. The top stressors for men include:
1. Finances
2. Family and friends
3. Job stability
4. Fast pace of life
Here are a few tips to help relieve some of the stress:
1. Take time for yourself (be alone)
2. Enjoy a hobby or be with friends virtually
3. Stop and take a breath…or 10
4. Focus and regroup
5. Exercise and get enough sleep (at least 7 to 9 hours)
6. Ask for help
A male friend of mine told me when he lost his job this week, “Deal so you can Heal. I have the control!”
So, in this time of uncertainty take care of yourself, enjoy your friends and family (virtually), and stay stress free.
Written by one of Lotus Counseling Center’s licensed psychotherapists, Randee Kramer, LCSW.
April 23, 2020
April 23, 2020