The following article was produced in partnership with Leadership.
We all have our quirks. But while some of us feel guilty about Friday night’s Netflix binge, others will spend all weekend popping pills in delirium and fail to see the problem.
Everyone is different, and we’re not here to tell you how to live your life. Each person (and their partner) has a different tolerance for (and definition of) “problem behaviors”. What may be perfectly fine at one point in your life may be a devastating habit at another. It’s up to you to judge, not us.
However, there are some notable problems that behavioral health services like Helm see cause problems for men in their relationships over and over again. These include alcohol, drugs, gambling, and pent-up emotions (or anger and the inability to manage it).
Helm knows the impact these problem behaviors can have not only on you, but on the people around you, especially your partner. In fact, it is often this realization (through your self-awareness or more likely by your partner calling it out) that leads people to realize that they have a problem and that it is time to do something about it.
Even those men who come to Helm to seek help for alcohol or drug abuse usually talk about their relationships and realize that their behavior contributes to the difficulties they are experiencing, whether they are at home, at work, or with friends. Therefore, if they address their behavior, their relationships will improve as well.
On that note, and in collaboration with Helm, allow us to provide you with six ways to deal with “problem behaviors” like an adult.
Visit a consultant
Doesn’t sound naive but… didn’t you hear? Seeing a counselor is no longer a bad thing. No one will take you to the asylum. In 2023, everyone is crazy. And seeing a therapist is a badge of honor. If you want to impress your partner, a date, or even your parents, don’t tell them you go to the gym or work long hours trying to get a promotion: tell them you’re seeing a therapist (and see the already mentioned therapist…). Emotional literacy isn’t weak: It’s what they call a green flag: one of the sexiest assets a man can have in 2023.
Not only will seeing a counselor improve your relationship with your partner, friends, and family, but it will also pay dividends in other aspects of your life. Those things that used to be a struggle (think: going to the gym, finding the motivation to work harder) become a lot easier when you’re on a good mental level, and you visit a counselor or behavioral health specialist at Helm, who will tailor their approach to working on your problem in a way that works for you, And it’s a great way to get that positive cycle going.
As author John Milton said: “The mind is its own place, and can by itself make heaven out of hell, hell out of heaven.” Speaking of which: We think it’s crazy how little effort many of us put into putting our brains together — the same way you go to the gym to make your body work for you, so why not put a little effort into training your mind? Seeing a counselor is one of life’s most underappreciated hacks.
Re-evaluate your relationship with alcohol
Yes, we went there. And no: we’re not saying you should quit smoking. But think carefully about how alcohol affects your life. Is it a celebration when you’re up, or is it a celebration when you’re down? If you feel like a bottle is getting better, you’re not alone. Statistics show that many Australians are willing to do almost anything to improve their health… except to quit drinking. Don’t be shy about asking for help afterward. Helm, for example, has professionals who are trained to help you get your relationship with alcohol back on track.
It doesn’t sound dreary and dreary, but you really want to quit while you’re ahead: DMARGE spoke with Adrian Dunlop, a joint professor at the University of Newcastle, recently. Professor Dunlop, who has more than 25 years of experience as an addiction clinician, said your brain can be seriously affected by heavy drinking.
There is such a thing as alcohol-related brain injury. Therefore, alcohol affects your brain function, especially memory functions, which is why older people who drink alcohol find it difficult to learn anything new. They can only remember things they learned years and years ago [and] Their attention is really poor. [Alcohol-related brain injury,] It’s not well understood and not well diagnosed because people don’t know about it.”
Re-evaluate your relationship with drugs
Going on a two day bender is not great for your brain. Especially if you’re popping over prosecco. Cocaine, for example, gives you a rush because it triggers an immediate release of dopamine in the brain.
However, according to the Ministry of Health, this eruption only lasts fifteen to thirty minutes, and here other effects are visible. Cocaine users can then become very agitated, paranoid, and aggressive. They may also experience dizziness, hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, tremors, headaches, and heartache.
In the long term, regular cocaine use can lead to severe depression and something called “cocaine psychosis” – its symptoms include aggression and disturbing hallucinations such as seeing or feeling insects under the skin.
Similarly, ecstasy (also known as MDMA) can make users feel euphoric, energetic, and confident, but also aggressive, paranoid, anxious, and irritable. Long-term risks of regular MDMA use include permanent damage to the regulation of mood and even body temperature, appetite, and sex drive.
For cannabis, this drug can trigger long-term psychotic symptoms in a person who is prone to psychosis (meaning they have a family history of psychotic illness, such as schizophrenia); Even if that person only tries once.
Even if you’re not one of those people, frequent long-term cannabis use can cause poor concentration, memory loss, and learning difficulties. However, the aforementioned Professor Dunlop mentioned that a study conducted by health professionals considered cannabis to be the least harmful drug (one that does not suffer from a psychotic illness).
However, if you want to re-evaluate your relationship with any of these medications (or any other medication), we highly recommend you head to Helm – a judgment-free zone – where you can speak with a trained behavioral health professional.
Re-evaluate your relationship with your partner
Do you take them for granted? Are you still investing time and effort in ensuring that your relationship grows? Do you tell them what’s going on in your life? If you’d rather zone out on the couch and watch the latest NBA, EPL, AFL, or Rugby League than have a deep, meaningful conversation with your partner, you’re not alone. And each person has different methods of decompression.
But if you want your relationship to go the distance, you need to put effort into it. Especially if your partner is a sweetheart, talk about your ear type. chat one day; Go for a walk. Get out of your comfort zone. See what comes of it. And if the thought of stopping soccer and spending a night with your partner fills you with dread, enlist the help of Helm behavioral health professionals who can help you, without blaming you for your incompetence (and commitment to foot-watch).
Reevaluate your relationships with your friends
Many men struggle to get past surface level conversations with their mates. This isn’t to say that love isn’t there (it’s unspoken, and sometimes it’s beautiful like that), but it is hidden. Unfortunately, in a lot of scenarios, this leads to some men feeling like they can’t ask for the help they need or be as open as they’d like with their mates. This can lead to a lot of broken-heart issues, which you’ve likely heard about more than enough times elsewhere (think: depression, loneliness, and suicide).
To make sure you’re the best companion you can be, try to address your weaknesses occasionally in conversations with your mates, and see where it gets you (you might be surprised, and they might open up in return). Conversely, if the thought of telling your colleagues about something that worries you still seems too much, contact the Helm specialists, who are always there for a chat.
Reevaluate your relationship with pornography
Many men are addicted to porn. But overcoming your addiction can greatly improve your sex life.
according Medical news todayAnd Pornography addiction is “a person who becomes so emotionally dependent on pornography that it interferes with their daily life, relationships, and ability to function.”
If this sounds like you, DMARGE spoke with Samantha Jayne, Channel Ten’s relationship counselor to The Bachelor, all about porn addiction. And she has some great advice for any man struggling with porn addiction.
Excessive consumption of pornography can alter your brain chemistry, she said, “causing significant problems in relationships, lowering confidence levels, increasing anxiety and impairing sexual performance.”
Over stimulation [brought on by excessive porn consumption] It results in an increased expectation of self-gratification rather than an intense experience of togetherness—and that equals bad sex. “
Adds Samantha: “At first, pornography can seem self-soothing and bring instant gratification. It can be used to mask uncomfortable feelings of anxiety, stress, depression, boredom and used to block unwanted emotional feelings and escapism, which may seem harmless at first. It isn’t. .”
To overcome your addiction, Samantha advises you: “Replace your old negative bad habit (pornography) with something more positive.” This can include exercise, meditation, yoga, or going out and spending time with her fact People.
Another way to overcome pornography addiction is to join the community. There are some fairly wacky ones out there (think: the whole ‘no fap’ movement) but there are also some more enlightened ones.
There’s no shortage of advice on porn addiction on Instagram and TikTok, but perhaps the best community is Reddit /r/pornfree, where men (and women, for that matter) share their experiences and tribulations with overcoming porn addiction.
One great comparison shared on /r/pornfree shows how difficult it is to overcome porn addiction: “Being addicted to porn with a phone and trying to quit is like being a recovering alcoholic who always has a bottle of vodka in his pocket. It’s absolutely insane.” No wonder this nonsense is so difficult.”
If you also struggle with pornography addiction and would like to talk to someone about it, contact Helm to find a trained professional to fit your needs.
Helm is a godsend. Offers advice and other support services designed to fit seamlessly into your hectic modern life. Helm is supportive and understands that when life changes beneath your feet, sometimes questionable behaviors can trip you up.
Helm is available both online and in person with appointments now available with qualified counsellors, psychologists and social workers. It can be accessed quickly, confidentially, and without judgment. It is there to help you take charge of your life.
Take the helm
