June is Men's Mental Health Awareness Month. With the month coming to an end, it's a good opportunity to explain how cigars can play a pivotal role in mental health. While women are becoming more prominent in the cigar industry, men still make up a large portion of the consumer base.
Before we get into it, let's look at the stats. Men make up 80% of suicides in the United States, and are four times more likely to take their own lives. 40% of men have never spoken to anyone about their mental health, or even let it be known by their close family and friends. 1 in 10 men suffer from depression or anxiety, and less than half of them receive treatment for it.
Cigars can be a great way to relax from the stresses of life, and be a way to force yourself to sit and not do anything. They can also act as a form of therapy, or be used as a crucible for talking to someone. When you smoke a cigar, your heart rate lowers, your blood pressure isn't as high, and your mind is able to relax. If you smoke a cigar alone, you can sit with your thoughts, and actually reset yourself to work through what's going on in your life and how it can be fixed, or at least handled to the best of your ability. That being said, you should not self medicate with cigars, or whiskey if your pairing. They are meant to be a tool to help you solve the problem.
If you are smoking with someone, it's easier to talk with them about your mental health, you insecurities, and your thoughts. It gives you something to do while you talk, and allow you to fill the silence, and think before you speak. It also gives the other person a chance to actually listen. For some, this can be their form of therapy. Some people do not want to or need to see a therapist, sometimes they just need to talk about their problems. However, if you need professional help, get it. Smoking a cigar with your buddy is not meant to be an in depth dive into your mental health issues, if you have a mental health crisis. It can be easier for people to talk to someone they know and trust, before going to get professional help.
While cigars can be a great tool to help with your mental health alone, they are better used with other tools. Talking to a trusted friend is one of them. You can also pair your cigar with music to add an extra barrier between your thoughts and your everyday life. Heavier music, like metal, can be the perfect pairing. Focusing on the flavor profile and the words of a song can be great tools to dissect your thoughts and feelings, and help you reflect. Having a cigar after a workout can also be a great pairing. Working out on its own is a great boost for your mental health, not to mention your physical health. You can go to the gym and throw around some weight for an hour or two. Get your aggression out in a constructive way. When you're finished with your workout, you can smoke a cigar, and take the time to reflect on what's been on your mind and come up with conclusions and answers on your own.
While these are tools to help you process and work through mental health issues, they are not an answer. If you need professional help, please get it. If a fire cannot be controlled by you, you call the fire department. If a potentially volatile situation cannot be controlled by you, you call the police. If a medical emergency cannot be controlled by you, you call an ambulance. Your mental health is no different. If you need professional help, or are thinking about suicide, dial 988. If you just need someone to talk to about your problems, email me at jim@greatcigarreviews.com and we can set up a smoke together.
