Mental Battle WOD 2023

It was a cold Spring Break morning (yeah, you read that right!) when YHC and 2 other PAX came to pay homage to a WOD designed by F3 Winston-Salem. In addition to the Thang, we discussed the very real issue of men’s mental health.

DISCLAIMER
PRAYER
COP
SSH

Sticky Butt Kickers

Abe Vigodas

Morrocan Night Clubs
THE THANG
For The Thang, we moseyed to the playground, where PAX found 5 stations set up: each corresponding to the 5 Core Principles of F3. Which, if this is the first you’ve heard of these, are:

1) Free of charge.
2) Open to all men.
3) Held outdoors, rain or shine, heat or cold.
4) Peer led by men who participate in the workout in a rotating fashion, with no training or certificate necessary.
5) Ends with a Circle of Trust.

The COT may very well be the one place that gives all men present the opportunity to listen to each other and have their voices heard. This is why the COT is the home base for this workout.

The Thang starts with the Middle Station (COT) and is where PAX return between the other stations. When we arrived back to the Middle Station, YHC shared the following statistics about men’s mental health:

1. Although men are marginally less likely than women to develop a significant mental illness during their lifetimes, about 1 in 2 men will have a diagnosable disorder at some point in their lifetimes.

2. Men are about 2x less likely than women to seek help if problems do occur.

3. Almost 50% of men feel that they are struggling more than they admit to people in their life.

4. Depression looks significantly different in men than in women… Women tend to present as sad and withdrawn, while men tend to present as irritable and angry.

5. Men are 2-3x more likely to abuse substances in an attempt to manage their mental health, which often leads to other health problems.

6. Suicide rates in men have been steadily increasing over the past 20 years, and at present, men are 4x more likely than women to die by suicide, and this risk increases with age.

7. Therapists that specialize in working with men often use different strategies to make therapy feel more approachable… therapy doesn’t have to look like sitting in an office and crying about your feelings!

8. Therapists have historically done a pretty crappy job of helping men, though things are slowly changing. Men often go to therapy at the urging of a loved one, but men tend to drop out of therapy sooner than women because they find it unhelpful. This is a legitimate problem, and you’re not crazy if you’ve tried therapy before and it wasn’t helpful for you! If you’re thinking about reaching out to a therapist, consider finding one that has specific expertise in working with men. (from Giles, who is a therapist and can offer this opinion form a place of experience).

Here’s the breakout for the different stations:

Middle Station (COT)

Round 1 = 2 Burpees (for a total of 8)
Round 2 = 4 Burpees (for a total of 16)
Round 3 = 8 Burpees (for a total of 32)
Round 4 = 16 Burpees (for a total of 64)

Station 1 (Free)

Hand Release Merkins x10
Clap Merkins x10
Toe Touch Merkins x10
Add Mike Tysons x10

Round 2-4 = double the reps

Station 2 (All Men)

Shoulder Tap x15 (Double Count)
Add Mountain Climbers x15 (Double Count)
Add Peter Parkers x15 (Double Count)
Add Parker Peters x15 (Double Count)

Round 2-4 = double the reps

Station 3 (Held Outside)

Monkey Humpers x10
Bonny Blairs x10 (Single Count)
Side Lunges x10 (Single Count)
Jump Squats x10

Round 2-4 = double the reps

Station 4 (Peer Led)

LBCs x10
Freddy Mercuries x10 (Double Count)
Heels to Heaven x10
Superman x10

Round 2-4 = double the reps

PAX made it through the end of Round 2 before having to head back to the “flag”.

MARY
No time
CIRCLE OF TRUST
PRAYER
MOLESKIN
In F3, we have a special chance to be a support system for one another by observing and being mindful of each other’s lives. As we get to know each other better, we can become more attuned to the struggles and challenges each of us faces.

Isolation can be dangerous, especially when it comes to our mental health. It’s in these private places where unhealthy thoughts can run rampant and, if not addressed, can lead to some very harmful and permanent mistakes.

Let’s truly watch the 6 and be the help that each of us needs.
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