June 10-16 was Men’s Health Week and we are reminded of how easily injuries can occur by incidents in recent high profile football matches.
The days of macho men continuing to play or work with serious injuries are past, as more of the legends of sport open up about the mental costs to themselves over the years.
A broken jaw is obvious, but the damage to the bit between the ears is not so obvious.
Organisations such as Beyond Blue make a huge effort to overcome the male stigma of acknowledging the possible existence of mental health issues derived from sport or work.
Unfortunately, there is another shadow hanging over modern generations, and that is the alarming increase in substance abuse.
Recent reports indicate that Australia is bedevilled with this disease.
The use of cocaine is increasing exponentially with users blissfully unaware of the long term impact of this insidious drug.
Serotonin, which is the chemical that controls the moods in our brain, is steadily eroded by any illicit substance.
Medical science clearly shows that the body does not naturally replace serotonin, so whatever thrills there are initially have a severe long term cost to pay.
The further serotonin is reduced by any circumstances, the more erratic a person’s temperament will become.
Low levels of serotonin can lead to suicidal depression, which occurs in the sub-conscious and is very hard to control.
It is not what goes wrong in your life that matters.
What counts is how you deal with it.
On a more pleasant note, June 12 was Thank First Responders Day.
This includes paid and volunteers from the various services.
First Responders deal with some horrific circumstances in the community, and they would be only human to be affected by those events.
We all know someone who is a first responder; remember to thank them for their services.
