In preparation for National Suicide Prevention Month (September), National Suicide Prevention Week (September 8 – 14, 2019) and WORLD Suicide Prevention Day (September 10th), it is LONG overdue to address some issues of Body Image that may dwell in the hearts and minds of men.
What Does Any Of This Mean?
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. All month, mental health advocates, prevention organizations, survivors, allies, and community members unite to promote suicide prevention awareness.
National Suicide Prevention Week is the Monday through Sunday surrounding World Suicide Prevention Day. It’s a time to share resources and stories, as well as promote suicide prevention awareness.
World Suicide Prevention Day is September 10. It’s a time to remember those affected by suicide, to raise awareness, and to focus efforts on directing treatment to those who need it most.
Why Is This Important?
You might be saying to yourself, “What does Active-Dad have to do with suicide prevention?” or, “What do Body Image Issues have to do with suicide?”. Another common notion is that men do not have body image issues. I get it, I REALLY DO! So I will clarify.
First off, you CANNOT live in these GREAT United States without being bombarded with images of what media outlets deem to be a “Great Bod” or a “Perfect 10 figure”. It is important to stress that ACTIVE-DAD.com exists to be a platform that encourages father figures to PRIORITIZE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. ACTIVE-DAD.com is not here to promote the fad diet, ripped bodies and six-pack abs. While these aesthetic characteristics can play their part as goals or contribute to your overall personal motivation, its is important to be clear on where we stand. ACTIVE-DAD.com exists to motivate EVERYDAY Dads to PRIORITIZE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY for their own well-being, as well as, their families. Point, blank, period.
Health OVER body image.
Now that I got that out of the way, let’s talk about body image. Because we live in a society compelled by images and facades, we can lose track of what is important. The most important concept to grasp, is the concept of HEALTH. What I mean by that is, getting to a healthy body weight, developing healthy habits and maintaining that healthy body weight, is more important than having those 2, 4 or 6 pack of abs for the Summer.
Throughout my life I have consciously or unconsciously allowed my PERCEPTION of my body image to drive a lot of my action. Simply put, if I was not fitting into a certain pair of jeans or did not feel comfortable in my clothes, that was my cue to make some changes. Now, personally, I do not feel there is anything ENTIRELY wrong with that. We all need some indicators and some feedback when we are going in the wrong direction. When those Levi’s ain’t fitting like they use to or that shirt is fitting tighter around the midsection area than it was before, MAYBE, just maybe, it was not the washer machine that did it THIS TIME.
Unique Body Types
This may be a given, but I will say it any way…OUR BODIES ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL!
I have tried time and TIME again to fit into certain brands of clothing, sometimes based on brand recognition, other times because the discount I received from working for a particular department store. I say this for the dads that may realize this, NOT ALL SIZE 33 WAIST 32 INSEAM are built for you! Facing the facts, my waist is from a 32 to 33 when I am fit. That does not mean I will be fitting into a 32 waist, 33 inseam on every pair of Levi’s Jeans.
We Are All Created EQUALLY Different!
I remember, and I remember it VIVIDLY. When I was to be wed my GORGEOUS wife, I underwent the typical fitting for my Groomsman suit. I remember the tailor stating that I was “Heavy in the Seat”. I added that I should not “Do so many Squats”. Say what now?!?! By that he was referring to Back Squats, a common exercise for the ACTIVE minded male. Despite being taken back by his verbiage, I was not surprised. Inherently, my family has been known to have “thick” legs and buttocks. For this, I have always been EXTREMELY self-conscious about. This goes beyond mere mention of our body types. At the core, I have had complications with jeans, trousers, pants or pantaloons that fit my body type. If I go for my waist size, I am not likely to fit into the trousers due to my thick legs. If I select sizes larger than my waist, the pants may fit my legs and buttocks, but I will no doubt be subjected to a set of pants that fit super loose around my waist that require me to crumple/fold in the waist area with tons of free space. This gives the affect of an orphan in a pair of pants that does not belong to them. Some of y’all may feel me.
How Do You Deal With Body Image Issues?
I am quite confident in saying that you know the exact moment in when you started noticing the differences in your body type and how it compared to the mainstream. In conjunction to that, you are likely astutely aware of what body image issue(s) have developed or exasperated over the years. You are not alone! My question is, how have you dealt with them? What are your coping mechanisms? Have they been a source of MOTIVATION or have they been a source of PAIN?
Share your story…www.ACTIVE-DAD.com
#BeThe1To
#BeThe1To is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s message for National Suicide Prevention Month and beyond, which helps spread the word about actions we can all take to prevent suicide. The Lifeline network and its partners are working to change the conversation from suicide to suicide prevention, to actions that can promote healing, help and give hope.
Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Approximately 45% of suicide victims had contact with primary care providers within 1 month of suicide. Here are some resources, including 24-hour crisis lines and technical assistance materials:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline HRSA 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Lifeline provides free, confidential emotional support and referrals to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Veterans Crisis Line HRSA 1-800-273-TALK (8255) Press 1. The Veterans Crisis Line provides free, confidential emotional support and referrals to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Check out https://www.hrsa.gov/feature/suicide-prevention-week.html for more information!