Hong Kong can be a stressful place to live and have a huge impact on men’s mental health: work pressures, financial worries and a lack of sleep in this 24-hour city can deplete all of us, while family issues are exacerbated by an expat life that is lived away from our usual support networks. We chatted with Counselling Psychologist Sebastian Droesler about how men can go about tackling stress in the city.
While we all suffer from occasional bouts of stress, Sebastian believes the issue is endemic in men in Hong Kong. “Stress is the number one driver of men’s health issues here.” Why is this so? Many factors can contribute, according to Sebastian. “Work, relocation, relationships, injuries and finances can all trigger depression, anxiety and phobias.”
Tackling stress
But it’s the way that men typically tackle stress that can actually cause more issues. “Men often try to contain their stress in one area; for example, if they feel pressured at work, they may believe that they can compartmentalise it and keep it away from other areas of their lives,” he says. This, in turn, is likely to encourage unhealthy habits, such as heavy drinking or excessive exercising, which are carried out in an attempt to “fix” things. Such habits can then lead to more stress, eventually affecting relationships, family life and even physical health.
So what can be done?
The simplest solution may be one of the most effective: get more sleep. “Our bodies can cope with a lot of stress as long as we get enough sleep – around seven to nine hours on average per night. Shorter sleep over longer periods of time leads to low mood, irritability, loss of concentration and decreased cognitive performance.”
Another tip is to keep any extreme tendencies in check. “The guiding principle of moderation allows us to do a little of everything, as long as we stay away from extremes.” So, while a post-work tipple with friends is fine, a Friday-night binge-drinking session is unlikely to improve your mood far beyond the morning after.
Sebastian Droesler is a counselling psychologist, mindfulness trainer and life coach at Counselling Hong Kong.
9640 8681 | counsellinghongkong.com
Have more questions about health and medical issues in Hong Kong?
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