No matter what your sex, our lives are often stressful. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and anxious between balancing work, societal pressures and our personal lives.

When it comes to talking with others about these pressures and the emotional impact they may have, men typically tend to keep to themselves. While many men may open up to close friends and family members, mental health issues and concerns frequently aren’t addressed during a visit to the doctor.

Kayleigh Georgia Parent, L.C.S.W, Individual and Relational Psychotherapy, at NorthShore offers the following recommendations to men about how to maintain good mental health:

• Learn to live consciously and deliberately. Avoid living on autopilot, “just going through the motions.”  Take a class on mindfulness so you can learn to appreciate each moment of your life.
• Don’t brood about things. Share your thoughts and feelings with someone you trust.
• Consider the two rules of life:
  Rule # 1:  Don’t sweat the small stuff.
  Rule # 2:  It’s all small stuff!

Some of the most common mental health conditions suffered by men include:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Alcoholism/Problem drinking
• Excessive stress

What do you do to help reduce stress and anxiety? Would you be comfortable talking to your physician about mental health issues?