Mental Health - Widower Experience (WX)

Each May, the world unites to honor Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to focusing on mental health, raising awareness about mental health issues, and breaking down the stigma surrounding them. This month is a significant opportunity for us to make an impact by promoting understanding and providing valuable information on mental health. In a fast-paced and ever-changing world, where societal, technological, and personal pressures are at an all-time high, prioritizing mental health has become more critical than ever. The rapid shifts in our daily lives - whether through work demands, social media influence, or global uncertainties - can take a significant toll on our well-being. By fostering greater awareness and a deeper understanding, we can empower individuals to navigate these challenges with resilience, compassion, and the support they need. What Does Mental Health Awareness Mean? Mental health is just as important as physical health. Despite this, discussions around m...

First off, I generally trust that web browsers provide good translations for my readership, whether they prefer German or English. This time, however, I have written both a German and an English (or rather, American) version. This is because I wanted to personally highlight certain aspects of my experiences and observations. This year, on International Women's Day, I want to raise my voice as a man to express my solidarity with all women worldwide. The equality of rights and opportunities for women is not just important; it is essential for a just and peaceful society. While we have seen significant progress in recent years, there is still much work to be done, especially in light of the latest developments involving prominent figures and policies. Let's start with social equality. Despite advances, there are still many social norms and stereotypes that disadvantage women. Recent controversies surrounding figures like Elon Musk and his transphobic comments highlight the persist...

International Men's Day (IMD) is a global event celebrated on November 19th each year. It is a day dedicated to highlighting the positive contributions that men make / can make to society, as well as raising awareness of the issues that men face. The theme of IMD varies from year to year, but it generally focuses on promoting gender equality, improving men's health, and celebrating positive male role models. The 2024 theme for International Men's Day is "Men's Health Champions." It aligns with one of the six main goals of International Men's Day, which is to improve the health of men and boys. The "Men's Health Champions" theme aims to address this objective, emphasizing the importance of promoting positive male role models in the context of health and well-being. At the core of International Men's Day is the recognition of the social challenges that men and boys confront.  The 2024 IMD theme, "Men’s Health Champions," will cast...

World Stroke Day on October 29th provides an annual focal point for stroke awareness activity around the world - but as I see it for everyone - looking for others in your area, taking care for others. Even this year the campaign highlights the importance of stroke prevention and encouraging us all to take steps to be GreaterThan stroke - the motto of this year. I like to share again the signs of stroke and how to see it in my article today. I you like check out the  World Stroke Day Campaign Know All the Signs of Stroke Be or make yourself familiar with the stroke symptoms in B.E. F.A.S.T.  A stroke is a very serious medical emergency. Symptoms come on suddenly, and every minute counts. The time window for this is narrow; the clinical therapy should, if possible, begin within 3 to 4 hours after the first stroke symptoms appear. And make yourself familiar with the the Differences in stroke symptoms between Women and Men BE FAST The longer someone having a stroke waits to get tr...

Objective of World Cancer Day 2024 is this year: "Together, we challenge those in power" .  With this year's theme, “Together, we challenge those in power,” advocates urge global leaders to eliminate health inequities in cancer care and address their root causes. World Cancer Day is an important day and momentum for us World Cancer Day is an important day and momentum for us to reflect on how we are contributing and collaborating with the cancer community to close the cancer care gap. This World Cancer Day is a powerful opportunity to speak out, to call for action, to listen to cancer patients and their families, and to give them a voice. The day aims to promote awareness about cancer. It also helps to strengthen actions that strive to improve cancer care, detection, preventive measures and treatment. Cancer is a large group of diseases that can affect any organ or tissue of the body - and everyone. All people at average risk should start testing at age 45, so talk ...

World Restart a Heart Day, which takes place annually on October 16th, aims to raise global awareness of the importance of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. The aim is to train as many people as possible worldwide in resuscitation measures. 1. CHECK Make sure it is safe to approach: Check for any response from the victim Tilt the head back, lift the chin and check breathing, heart rate and pulse If breathing is absent or not normal, no pulse  mouth-to-mouth and nose ventilation and CPR is needed 2. CALL Call 112 and follow their instructions. If someone is there to help, ask them to call 112 for you,and let them fetch an AED Cardiac compressions are most important for survival. Do not delay or interrupt cardiac compressions 3. COMPRESS Place both hands in the centre of the chest Compress the chest 5 to 6 cm 100-120 times / min to the rhythm of “Stayin´Alive” If you learned how to do it, provide 2 rescue breaths between every 30 compressions, otherwise pump the chest continuously Pus...

World Mental Health Day 2023 is an opportunity for people and communities to unite behind the theme ‘Mental health is a universal human right” to improve knowledge, raise awareness and drive actions that promote and protect everyone’s mental health as a universal human right. This more than ever important when we see all the wars we have to see in Ukraine and Israel. Mental health is a basic human right for all people. Everyone, whoever and wherever they are, has a right to the highest attainable standard of mental health. This includes the right to be protected from mental health risks, the right to available, accessible, acceptable, and good quality care, and the right to liberty, independence and inclusion in the community. Good mental health is vital to our overall health and well-being. Yet one in eight people globally are living with mental health conditions, which can impact their physical health, their well-being, how they connect with others, and their livelihoods. Mental he...

Steve Biko phrased the statement: "A people without a positive history is like a vehicle without an engine." (Bantu Stephen Biko was a South African anti-apartheid activist.) - I like the quote, maybe because I am a motorbike-cyclist, I am fascinated about engines, vehicles ...  However or in whatever way you want to look at it we have to understand every history in three parts which go hand in hand and overlapping each other - the past, present, and future. I firmly believe really seeing this, understanding this, and making use of them is important - but nobody is what happened to them, we all should be what we choose to become. Mindfulness is all the rage these days, and for good reason. Focusing on the moment can improve our well-being, foster compassion, and help our relationships. (Former Article about  Mindfulness ) What about learning from the past? What about going beyond the present moment?  Sure, thinking about the future can trigger anxiety - but a growing...

Today a colleague made me aware on this young lady. Not sure how I missed this video when it went viral a years ago but it touched me - should reach all of us - that's why I like to share it today, in case anyone missed it as well - take 7 minutes to listen and learn. Molly Wright took the TED Talk stage to gave a brilliant talk. She stressed and focused attention on the nature of learning, the 'qualities' of play for life. it's so brilliant how she brings the undeniable facts and benefits to light and named it crystal clear. I really love how she highlighted the benefits of play on lifelong learning, behavior and well-being, sharing effective strategies to help all kids thrive by the age of five.  When Molly Wright gave that talk in 2021, she was just seven years old. But that didn't stop her from talking, from speaking open and honestly, touching the people and reaching their / our minds and hearts.  Let us ensure or do our parts to ensure that all kids have the b...

World Blood Donation Day is an annual global event which takes place as every year on June 14th to raise awareness about the importance of voluntary blood donation.   As paramedic, but even I would not be, I think it is super important, to keep in mind the life-saving contributions of blood donors, encourage regular donation, and ensure the availability of safe and sufficient blood for transfusions, ultimately saving countless lives worldwide. And as former competitive sportsman, I can tell you, yes after you donated blood you have to adapt your training, checking more your pulse etc.. But within three to four weeks, the blood cells have almost completely recovered and rejuvenated. This could even increase your performance, since the new ones fit better through the smaller blood vessels and thus enable faster oxygen transport. For an athlete, there is nothing wrong with donating blood three to four times a year. On the contrary, you also get a free health check. Donate blood, ...

International Nurses Day is an international day observed around the world on 12 May (the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth) each year, to mark the contributions that nurses make to society.  Florence Nightingale (May 12th 1820 – August 13th 1910) was an English social reformer, statistician and the founder of modern nursing. Nightingale gave nursing a favorable reputation and became an icon of Victorian culture, especially in the persona of "The Lady with the Lamp" making rounds of wounded soldiers at night. The role of nurses and caregivers is so much more than the help and care at first glance - and what most people are talking about - Providing a listening ear to your loved one, and showing care and emphatic support is what I like to stress and make people aware of. Caregiving has always been important to families, friends and communities, but over the recent 3 years, caregiving has escalated even more in its value and significance. The necessity for caregiv...

Today - on March 15th it's National Napping Day - that's why I like to share with you my thoughts of napping and to give oneself a treat - for mental health. I love napping.  I’ve been known to fall asleep on a jerking, lurching subway trains, sailing boats ... all over the world. I once slept through the clanging bells of a church . My greatest pleasure is laying in the grass or on a park bench until I’m asleep like a very contented baby. Napping whenever I want to is one of the great pleasures of freedom - and of flexible work days or environment. I have and enjoy different kinds of  naps: Appetitive naps - my favorite by the way - just for the sheer joy of it! Recovery naps (for lost sleep) Prophylactic naps, taken when you anticipate losing sleep, prepare you for a late night out - or as preparation for a challenging meeting. Why I enjoy naps? Well, I see my naps as extremely beneficial for my 'thinking' because on the one hand my brain is ‘offline' from daily t...

Open up your heart … and your arms - Acts can speak louder than words and wrapping your arms around another is one of life's great pleasures. That is true as well if it comes to expressions of condolence and offer commiserations.   The simplest and most effective way of expressing affection is celebrated on National Hugging Day on January 21. Even though a hug is one of the most natural gestures, it’s not practiced enough these days! This holiday encourages hugging, as a therapeutic way to convey affection and emotions. Hugs have many health benefits. From reducing anxiety to boosting immunity Hugging has many benefits for physical and psychological health. Even hugging can reduce stress and blood pressure. Hugging has such an effect on the nervous system that fear runs away. Instead of saying anything, a hug can convey a lot in a better way. So, just go hug your loved ones. And in this context a song ... "Love Touch" by Rod Stewart "Cause I want to be good for you I...

Resilience isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a vital part of mental health and emotional well-being. In the world of mental health care, we now recognize that treatment and support aren't only about managing symptoms; they're also about   building the inner strength to cope, adapt, and recover . Whether you’re navigating personal stress, supporting others, or working in a high-pressure environment, resilience acts like a protective shield — helping you bounce back from setbacks and stay grounded through life’s challenges. But how do we build resilience in everyday life? One simple, science-backed framework I often come back to is  R.E.S.T.  — a four-part guide to nourishing your mind and body when life feels overwhelming. Let’s explore what R.E.S.T. means and how you can use it to strengthen your resilience, one small habit at a time. R.E.S.T.: A Simple Framework for Building Resilience In today’s fast-paced world, stress is inevitable — but burnout doesn’t have to be. The dif...

Experiencing and enjoying happiness is and will be an ongoing path we can find and go. I am sure everyone wants to have a meaningful and joyful life, cultivating certain behaviors can help, including meaning, authenticity, optimism, gratitude, compassion, and generosity. Based on what I learned in my life, struggled now and then in my life, for sure was challenged by near-death experiences, floodwaters, house fire, and the death of my wife - I became a firm believer that a large determinant of happiness is personality. The individual differences how people respond to events and also to other people have an impact on the levels of a person’s happiness. 5 Pillars of Happiness One influencer on happiness I like to mention upfront is one I do not have - but I learned that for many people it is an important of the important aspect - religion - it can be a powerful source of happiness. While not true universally, religion has been associated with greater happiness. Positive effects ...

We all strive every day to appear strong and invulnerable in private life and business life. Society or community pressure us to do it - or we believe they expect that from us. In addition, we often hardly have enough time to process certain experiences appropriately, to understand what we have experienced, to assess damage, to resolve contradictions and to overcome frustration an disappointments. Catharsis is one psychological key to start the process - to find your path and go your way. Our emotions, however, might or will become into view / become obvious in chaotic ways along the way, perhaps in the form of tears of anger or sadness, but little by little they allow us to find the right words to process what we have experienced. Adrienne Maree Brown once said something which fits in this context - I think or better I like the quote: “Things are not getting worse. They are getting uncovered. We must hold each other tight and continue to pull back the veil.“  And as historical bac...

I wrote a number of articles about awareness, emotions, feelings . Even we talk about these aspects a little bit more - in our society, people are rarely taught how to express their feelings and so it can be very difficult to know where or how to start. In fact, if you're like most men, and I am not only talking about these masculine men - we are still i a society where men will find it difficult to even notice how they are even feeling, like how their boss' mood can affect them, or how the stress of tight schedules can affect them. And when someone asks how they are doing, they're so disconnected from their own emotions that they fall back on the usual "I'm doing fine" making it harder for anyone to offer any support. However, ignoring feelings will not make them go away. The more we ignore our feelings, the bigger they become. I have often seen men appear  sane, healthy, and calm before bursting out in a burst of anger or aggression when something bad happen...