I believe that mental health is very important.
I was raised by depression era parents and, occasionally, serious physical injuries were not even treated until one- or both- parents were convinced the wound was serious enough to require a trip to the hospital or doctor.
Mental heal issues were only recognized in severe cases such as those that stunted learning or caused the patient to run naked through the neighborhood. I don’t recall any talk of anxiety, or depression in our house.
I admit that I watch shows that mostly older people enjoy maybe that’s why most of the commercials I see are for medications that will, “Bring back your youthful glow- energy- stamina, whatever. Basically: take our pill and all your problems will go away. Everything from quick weight loss to depression (per the commercials) can be cured with a pill!
In my opinion, the millions of dollars spent on advertising to encourage us to buy a pill whenever we have a physical or psychological need rather than “sucking it up” like my parents’ generation encouraged us to do, has been successful. Maybe too successful!
I say this because, it seems to me that, modern doctors are taught to prescribe pills rather than cure the cause. About a year ago I realized that my medicine cabinet was overflowing with medications for prostate, sinus, arthritis, skin cancer and other problems. My morning and afternoon rituals were to, first, take several pills- then go on to normal preparations to start the day and work through it.
I took the pills but was never sure if they were working or not. I got no worse, but no better, in many of the situations.
As a police officer I met suicidal subjects on many occasions. Sometimes I got there on time and stopped them, at least temporarily. Sometimes I was called, “After the fact” and was required to photograph the victim, notify family, if necessary, investigate the scene to eliminate the possibility of foul play and wait for the coroner.
After several years of truly believing that suicide was a problem, but it was what “other people do”- “Nobody I know would do that!” My immediate family was struck by that terrible problem twice in a few years and my extended family many more times than that (I do have a very large extended family- but way too many suicides)!
For my own self-help I read books on the subject and talked to as many professionals as I could about it. I wanted to be able to answer any questions that might arise on the subject to make me a better police officer, a better father and a better human!
One answer that came up, from several sources, was that it is beneficial to help yourself, so you can help others. At first, this solution didn’t sink in.
Why would I want to spend time on me prior to offering others help? With the stress that comes from raising a family; and the additional concerns that come from policing and surviving in modern America I started to accept that idea.
A few of the “remedies” I decided on were bowling, golf, motorcycle riding and drives in the country. It sounds crazy but I really enjoyed bowling when I was younger and realized that I, at the time, did not have anything I did for me. I worked, slept, helped with the kids and around the house then repeated.
I joined a Fall bowling league my brother was on- first as a substitute and then as a regular. I enjoyed it, and it helped, somewhat. Wednesday night bowling gave me something to look forward to from late August to early March.
It helped, but it wasn’t enough. 
Later a high school friend asked if I golfed. I hadn’t since I got married, but I loved the idea of starting again. We started to go out with 2 other guys every Monday in the summer- Tuesday if the weather was bad on Monday.
I started with a low average in bowling and a high average in golf- the opposite is desired. It’s been a few years and, as I like to say, I worked my way up to mediocre in both sports, I am a work in progress in both but look forward to each outing.
Now that I was taking care of me- a desired action that is good for everyone- I decided to go one step further. I bought a motorcycle.
There is no feeling quite like cruising on an open highway with the sun shining down on you and the wind blowing in your face (My hair has been gone for a long time). I rode for several years when I was single and, for me, the bike is an excellent stress reducer!
The last thing I’ll mention is taking either the bike or my pickup truck and driving in the country. I get such a feeling of peace looking along the sides of the road and seeing nothing but rolling rows of corn, beans or hay with occasional cows, horses or sheep; I understand this is not possible for everyone, but something similar- or equally effective- might be!
As I enjoy the relaxing scenery, I either turn my radio off, pray, or listen to old time rock and roll. It just can’t be beat.
Somehow seeing farms, animals, corn, beans and more has a way of calming me. I enjoy all of the beauty these sights provide but, I like the barns that are in the process of falling down the best. When I was in college, years ago, a professor in one of my history classes told me that he was once an insurance salesman and the farmers have to let the barns deteriorate until they collapse or they are not paid the total amount of their claim. I had no reason to doubt him at the time. Back then, I had a lot more faith in “The system” than I do now. At any rate, I wonder, if that was true then- is it still true?
I enjoy the times I see activity on the farms like plowing or harvesting. I’m always disappointed to see for sale signs up or, worse yet, excavating to make room for the new houses, condos or whatever will soon replace the crops.
I can not, in good conscience, be upset with the farmers for selling though. I know and have known many farmers. I am aware that their lot is not an easy one. They get up before the sun, do hard manual labor during the day, and into the night.
I compare that to the current price of land and the temptation to sell hundreds, or thousands of acres and not have to work another day in your life and I can easily see why so many farms in my area are up for sale.
I also feel compelled to admit that the last two houses I have bought were newly constructed on farmland! Seriously even most of the more established homes, were most probably, built on farmland!
If you think about it, and I believe you should, all health comes from mental health and, in many cases, mental health is the most neglected.
Please, for your own good, call for help if there is a need and ask your relatives and friends what you can do for them if they appear to be depressed or suicidal.
I hope this story has, maybe. altered your mood for the better.
Thank y0u for reading and please comment on your opinion of the topic and the blog.
Phil
I say this because, it seems to me that, modern doctors are taught to prescribe pills rather than cure the cause. About a year ago I realized that my medicine cabinet was overflowing with medications for prostate, sinus, arthritis, skin cancer and other problems. My morning and afternoon rituals were to, first, take several pills- then go on to normal preparations to start the day and work through it.
I took the pills but was never sure if they were working or not. I got no worse, but no better, in many of the situations.
As a police officer I met suicidal subjects on many occasions. Sometimes I got there on time and stopped them, at least temporarily. Sometimes I was called, “After the fact” and was required to photograph the victim, notify family, if necessary, investigate the scene to eliminate the possibility of foul play and wait for the coroner.
After several years of truly believing that suicide was a problem, but it was what “other people do”- “Nobody I know would do that!” My immediate family was struck by that terrible problem twice in a few years and my extended family many more times than that (I do have a very large extended family- but way too many suicides)!
For my own self-help I read books on the subject and talked to as many professionals as I could about it. I wanted to be able to answer any questions that might arise on the subject to make me a better police officer, a better father and a better human!
One answer that came up, from several sources, was that it is beneficial to help yourself, so you can help others. At first, this solution didn’t sink in.
Why would I want to spend time on me prior to offering others help? With the stress that comes from raising a family; and the additional concerns that come from policing and surviving in modern America I started to accept that idea.
A few of the “remedies” I decided on were bowling, golf, motorcycle riding and drives in the country. It sounds crazy but I really enjoyed bowling when I was younger and realized that I, at the time, did not have anything I did for me. I worked, slept, helped with the kids and around the house then repeated.
I joined a Fall bowling league my brother was on- first as a substitute and then as a regular. I enjoyed it, and it helped, somewhat. Wednesday night bowling gave me something to look forward to from late August to early March.
It helped, but it wasn’t enough. 
Later a high school friend asked if I golfed. I hadn’t since I got married, but I loved the idea of starting again. We started to go out with 2 other guys every Monday in the summer- Tuesday if the weather was bad on Monday.
I started with a low average in bowling and a high average in golf- the opposite is desired. It’s been a few years and, as I like to say, I worked my way up to mediocre in both sports, I am a work in progress in both but look forward to each outing.
Now that I was taking care of me- a desired action that is good for everyone- I decided to go one step further. I bought a motorcycle.
There is no feeling quite like cruising on an open highway with the sun shining down on you and the wind blowing in your face (My hair has been gone for a long time). I rode for several years when I was single and, for me, the bike is an excellent stress reducer!
The last thing I’ll mention is taking either the bike or my pickup truck and driving in the country. I get such a feeling of peace looking along the sides of the road and seeing nothing but rolling rows of corn, beans or hay with occasional cows, horses or sheep; I understand this is not possible for everyone, but something similar- or equally effective- might be!
As I enjoy the relaxing scenery, I either turn my radio off, pray, or listen to old time rock and roll. It just can’t be beat.
Somehow seeing farms, animals, corn, beans and more has a way of calming me. I enjoy all of the beauty these sights provide but, I like the barns that are in the process of falling down the best. When I was in college, years ago, a professor in one of my history classes told me that he was once an insurance salesman and the farmers have to let the barns deteriorate until they collapse or they are not paid the total amount of their claim. I had no reason to doubt him at the time. Back then, I had a lot more faith in “The system” than I do now. At any rate, I wonder, if that was true then- is it still true?
I enjoy the times I see activity on the farms like plowing or harvesting. I’m always disappointed to see for sale signs up or, worse yet, excavating to make room for the new houses, condos or whatever will soon replace the crops.
I can not, in good conscience, be upset with the farmers for selling though. I know and have known many farmers. I am aware that their lot is not an easy one. They get up before the sun, do hard manual labor during the day, and into the night.
I compare that to the current price of land and the temptation to sell hundreds, or thousands of acres and not have to work another day in your life and I can easily see why so many farms in my area are up for sale.
I also feel compelled to admit that the last two houses I have bought were newly constructed on farmland! Seriously even most of the more established homes, were most probably, built on farmland!
If you think about it, and I believe you should, all health comes from mental health and, in many cases, mental health is the most neglected.
Please, for your own good, call for help if there is a need and ask your relatives and friends what you can do for them if they appear to be depressed or suicidal.
I hope this story has, maybe. altered your mood for the better.
Thank y0u for reading and please comment on your opinion of the topic and the blog.
Phil
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