Bubble baths. Yoga. Getting your hair done. If these self-care ideas don’t appeal to you, then you may be a man. But what is self-care really, and isn’t it just for women? Well, self- care is taking the initiative to actively engage in something that is good for you that will maintain your mental health and wellness. And no, it is definitely not just for women. Unfortunately, it is marketed in such a way that it looks and sounds like it’s just for women, and this is simply an injustice to men, which is wrong and sad.
Category Archives: Mental Health/Wellness
Let’s Hear it for the Boys!
by Andrea Watson | December 22, 2020 First off, I do not claim to know anything about men. I am not a man and I grew up with three sisters and no brothers. But I know that men face their own issues, just like women do. And I appreciate and love men, so this oneContinue reading “Let’s Hear it for the Boys!”
I Can’t Sleep. I know…Let’s Write About Religious Trauma!
Yesterday my sister and I were talking about my last blog post, Please Pass the Yule. We talk about our blog posts a lot. And we often read each other’s stuff over the phone because we want feedback immediately. She kinda did a little flip-out maneuver when she read the part that said I was “a little jaded” that the Christians stole and bastardized Yule from the pagans and turned it into Christmas. She ranted for a minute about religious trauma and what it has done to her and I thought (and said) yes, but I’m a little more “movey-onny” than you. But was that true? WAS IT? I want to know.
Don’t Even Go There
So I just spent several hours on Quora.com answering a buttload of questions and I came across one that asked” How can I diagnose myself with depression and anxiety?” I had to answer this one. I had to say “Whoa buddy. Stop right there and back away from the Prozac!” What a stupid question…maybe. Is it? Do people really want to do this? I guess so. But it seems so damn foolish. Why? Read on.
When Life Gives You Mangoes
Life can be just like Alice in Wonderland sometimes. For those of us with mental illness, it can be hard to find our way out of the hellish dreamscape and back to reality. So what can you do to help a person who is juggling mangoes? If you are part of a support system for someone who goes through this, it is important to know them and what they need. It differs for different people. But generally, there are some things you can do. For me, I need to be watched closely. Not in a patronizing way, but be on the lookout for self-harm or suicidal statements or actions. Second, let me know firmly that I am in need of help and it would be irresponsible and inappropriate for me to not get my meds straightened out right away.
Helping a Friend With Depression
My son watches a lot of YouTube videos. He was watching one the other day and I heard the host say that depression is the act of being depressed. That had to be one of the stupidest damn things I’ve ever heard. Depression is not something you do, it is something you live with involuntarily. Not an act, a state. But this stupid comment got me thinking about myself and some of my beloved people. How do you help someone who lives with depression? What can you do for someone who literally can’t escape the darkness? This post puts forth some ideas.
Aftermath
So I did it. I kicked out my best friend. It was painful, but not messy. he went without a fuss. I was the only fussy one. I a still overly emotional, the saltwater threatens all my food at this point, not just the granola. I am still a wreck, but I have a pleading eye on the prize;there is a bit of hope.
Saltwater Granola and Me
I’m crying into my granola right now. Why? I’m not sure exactly. Could be the seasonal affective disorder. Could be the fact that I’ve been working so much I haven’t had time to write or clean my house in a while. Or it could be the fact that my once-beloved friend and roommate is such a lazy asshole he hasn’t gotten off his ass or the couch to help me or do a goddamn thing in weeks. Probably all three.
When Life Gives You Lemons, Buy Your Own Damn Fruit
I hate lemonade. It’s sour, and gives me heartburn. I even have trouble stomaching the pink stuff. So why is it that life always seems to think we need or want lemons? The saying “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade” has always bothered me. I mean, it’s good advice and all that. But there’s just something not quite right about it. It’s a little too settled. Resigned, maybe-that’s the word. Hmm. It’s one saying I don’t like to just accept. In this post I’m here to say screw lemonade! When life hands you lemons tell it you are highly allergic to citrus, bust out your epi-pen, and be sure to collect life’s name and contact information for insurance purposes later. The way I see it, there are three ways we can handle this. And each one is perfect for a specific kind of situation. Choose wisely.
Let’s Talk About Sex, Baby!
Have you ever washed your hands, sat down at the dinner table, looked at your partner, and said, “Pass the penis, please!” No? Well, perhaps you should. “Spicing it up” may be all you need to deal with sexual distress during periods of stagnation. But if you’ve already pounced like a wildcat and ravaged your partner right there at the dinner table and you are still having trouble getting off, then maybe you are looking at some kind of sexual dysfunction.
Life All Day 