Submitted by Bedford Youth and Family Services
June is National Men’s Health Month. While emphasis is most often given to physical and nutritional health, mental health is just as important. Many men learn as young boys to suppress their feelings and appear strong at all costs. As a result, they often struggle to express sad feelings or reach out for help throughout adulthood. In fact, men often don’t recognize or acknowledge their need for help until they start experiencing the physical problems of depression. A few of the most common physical symptoms include:
- Increased aches and pains, which occur in about two out of three people with depression
- Chronic Fatigue
- Decreased interest in sex
- Decreased appetite
- Insomnia, lack of deep sleep, or oversleeping
How is it, you may wonder, that your emotional self can have such a significant impact on your physical self? The brain has a powerful influence on body chemistry. For example, brain messengers or ‘neurotransmitters’ such as serotonin, change when you are depressed. This, in turn, can alter your pain threshold, making you more sensitive to pain, especially back pain. The loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed as a result of depression can contribute to appetite loss.
If you or someone you care about is experiencing some of the physical changes associated with depression, check your symptoms at www.bedfordma.gov/youth under the “screenings” section. Depression is highly treatable and there are local resources available.
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