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Body, Foot & Leg Clinic | Glasgow
Published in: Back pain

Mens Mental Health Week

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This week Scotland is beginning to reopen its doors. Many of us have been saying we’re “desperate” for this. But now that it’s happening is anybody else feeling weird, a little unsure, anxious, strangely frustrated and stressed at the prospect of leaving the bubbles that we’ve created and have lived within for the past 3 months? Have these feelings taken you by surprise?

For good health we believe that we need to make mental health a priority as research shows poor mental health has a negative effect on heart health and pain.  A good book I read recently is ‘Why Kindness is good for you’ by Dr David Hamilton.  Dr Hamilton writes, and cross references with science articles, that kindness provokes happiness which promotes a healthier heart, better brain function, better blood flow through the body and longevity.

Pain and Mental Health

 

Does any of this sound familiar:

  • I don’t really notice my usual pain as much on days when I’m distracted by happy events.
  • That old niggling back pain returns when I feel slow and sluggish
  • I feel angry when I can’t lift weights due to the same old elbow injury
  • I try to train through the pain but can’t.  it makes me feel angrier and low in mood and I can begin to experience feelings of depression.
  • I didn’t realise that pain is associated with how I feel…

How we feel is what we do and what we do is how we feel…

In clinic, we regularly see male patients that are struggling with feelings of depression and anxiety but haven’t spoken to anybody about this.  I’m not sure why this is, do woman talk more than men? Taking care of our mental health is essential for managing body pain. It’s imperative.  We explained the link between how we feel and body pain in an earlier blog (23rd May, Mental health awareness and body aches and pains).  Even still, after years of practice, I am surprised that I am met with male patients that tell me I am the first person they have opened up to about their feelings.  Once they begin to open up I never notice that they feel embarrassment, just relief.  Are men still not talking and opening-up about how they feel?

Fire & Peace Recovery

Because we KNOW the absolute importance of mental health when treating injuries I readily agreed for The Foot and Leg Clinic to become associated with an amazing local charity, Fire & Peace Recovery.  It’s founder, Gerry Ward, has created a safe space for people to talk freely, without judgement, and this has had a profound affect on male mental health.  A group of people who are struggling to maintain healthy mental health go off out to the countryside and camp. Simple.  They camp under the stars and talk around a campfire, sharing stories.  Here, men can be found opening their hearts to a group of strangers about their most vulnerable thoughts and feelings.  It’s a beautiful thing and when in attendance I felt privileged to witness, it was incredible. This simple effort of reconnecting with nature and people is enough to lift spirits and refocus on healthy lifestyle choices.  A healthier diet and exercise regime leads to less body pain and injury, leads to better mental health… So really, we don’t always need to run marathons and lift 100kg, we just need to talk.

Fire & Peace Recovery on facebook

Fire & Peace Recovery Webpage

Thanks for reading. For more information call us and one of our clinicians will be happy to call you back!

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