We’ve given them breakfast in bed, tickets to see their favorite team play and all of the slippers, ties and polos they could possibly need. He may have appeared happy on Father’s Day, but the reality is that millions of men secretly struggle with varying degrees of prolonged sadness, particularly as they age. While these feelings of sadness and despair are not unique to men, men are less inclined to acknowledge their feelings or open up to the people closest to them. Left unaddressed, the blues can lead to a wide range of issues such as chronic stress, heart disease, personal neglect, substance abuse and depression. Here are just a few suggestions to help the father figures in your life stay physically and emotional well long after June 18th.
Healthy Social Connections: Aging is a team sport. People who have meaningful social connections fare far better than people who go it alone. According to the Mayo Clinic, positive relationships can boost your happiness, reduce stress, improve your confidence and help you cope with traumatic life events. Adults with a strong social network have reduced risk of depression, lower blood pressure and tend to maintain a more healthy body mass index. Why not help him establish social outlets that will help him build new or rekindle old connections.
Guided Exercise: It’s difficult to overstate the importance of guided exercise for supporting good mental health. Having a workout partner or personal trainer to help guide the workout and offer companionship is ideal for someone dealing with sadness. According to research done by the Cleveland Clinic, regular exercise is a powerful way to fight depression. It can boost serotonin, endorphins, and other feel-good chemicals in the brain which can make problems seem more manageable.
Healthy Eating: According to Harvard Health, your brain can be damaged if you ingest unhealthy fuel. Diets high in refined sugars, for example, are harmful to the brain. Not only do they worsen your body’s regulation of insulin, they also promote inflammation and oxidative stress. Multiple studies have found a correlation between a diet high in refined sugars and impaired brain function — or even depression.
Purpose: The need to feel needed…. that someone or something is depending on you, is a big part of what make us human and is critical for our emotional health. Help dad find a cause, a veterans group or charity that he can support. If he’s capable, consider getting dad a pet. Contributing to the well being of others is a gift to the world which in turn makes us feel better about ourselves.
Music As Medicine: Suzanne Hanser, president of the International Association of Music and Medicine, explains how music connects us emotionally to the positive [or negative] experiences of our past. Research shows that music can have a beneficial effect on brain chemicals such as dopamine, which is linked to feelings of pleasure, and oxytocin, the so-called “love hormone.” There is moderate evidence that music can help lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. So try making a play list of dad’s favorite songs. It’s certain to lift his spirits and bring him joy.
Could your father benefit from the support, guidance and companionship of a personal trainer? Contact us today at 888-323-8677.
If you think that dad might be suffering from prolonged sadness or depression, please call his doctor to see if therapy or medical treatment is needed.