Aspirus | Aspire | Spring 2018

every person, but it may be depression if you: w w Feel sad, empty or hopeless a lot. w w Are irritable, anxious or angry—for example, you might snap at your family or co-workers for no reason. w w Lose interest in work, family, hobbies or other things that once gave you joy. w w Feel very tired. w w Have trouble concentrating or remembering things. w w Sleep too little or too much. w w Eat too little or too much. w w Isolate yourself. w w Drink alcohol to feel better or to self-medicate. aspirus.org 7 WE all know it’s important to take care of our physical health by exercising and eating right, but we often overlook our mental well-being—especially men. A lot of men can grow up believing a very dangerous myth that they shouldn’t talk about their feelings. And when they’re hurting, they just hold it inside. That kind of thinking may be one of the reasons why too many men with depression don’t ask for the help they greatly need and deserve. If you’re one of these men, seeking help is exactly what you should do. Depression is a serious medical illness, one that hangs like a dark cloud over millions of American men. It can leave you feeling run-down, angry and as though you just don’t care anymore about things that once made you happy. But with the right treatment, you can be on your way to feeling better again. “Depression is treatable, but there is often a stigma for men about getting help for mental health problems,” said Linda Murphy, licensed clinical social worker with Aspirus Medford Clinic. “They often fear they may be viewed as weak for getting help or think, ‘I can do it by myself,’ but most people get better with treatment options that include counseling, medicines or both.” An important step toward improvement is recognizing the signs of depression and telling someone, such as your doctor, about how you’re feeling. Spot the signs Depression is more than feeling temporarily down in the dumps. Its overwhelming symptoms can last for weeks. Depression feels different for GETHELPTOFEELBETTER Aspirus offers behavioral health services in several communities, including Antigo, Elcho, Weston, Rhinelander, Medford, Phillips, Prentice, Wausau, Wisconsin Rapids and Ironwood, Michigan. Visit aspirus.org or call the Aspirus Customer Contact Center at 800.847.4707 to find a provider. Depression: It’s a guy thing too Linda Murphy, LCSW w w Have trouble meeting work or family demands. w w Think about suicide. Sources: American Psychiatric Association; Mental Health America; National Institute of Mental Health PODCASTS Go online to aspirus.org/mentalhealth to find related podcasts. Expanding behavioral health in Wisconsin Rapids Aspirus RiverviewHospital &Clinics inWisconsin Rapids is expanding its behavioral health practice and will open a clinic in late summer 2018. The clinic will offer psychiatry services as well as advanced nurse practitioners and licensed clinical social workers for all ages.