FOR AND ABOUT MEN
Health& Wellness
Just for the guys
November 2016 / Bella Fella / X1
Supports Men’s Health
Growing Our Hair to Show We Care Woodlands Medical Specialists Supports Movember It’s that time of the year again! The Urologists of Woodlands Medical Specialists will raise awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer, through No Shave November - better known as Movember. Movember is a global push for men to grow out their facial hair during the 30 days of November, and Woodlands Urology is in full support of this initiative. Of course everyone can raise awareness for men's health throughout the Movember campaign by simply spreading the message, as well as donating and fundraising. At Woodlands, we do all of the above. Many of our Urologists grow facial hair to demonstrate their support of men’s health, while employees and patients also take on this month-long challenge.
Woodlands Urologists Lead by Example
Dr. David Bernstein Showcases Handcrafted Pins
Dr. Brett Parra & Rhys Sharp Beard & Mustache Alliance Front Row Left to Right: Dr. Ashley King, Dr. Maurice Bouchard, Dr. Jeffrey Wolters, Dr. Frank Greskovich Back Row Left to Right: Dr. Davinder Sekhon, Dr. Taylor Vaughan, Dr. David Bernstein, Dr. Brett Parra
Woodlands Employees have the opportunity to wear “Growing Our Hair to Show We Care” t-shirts and fundraise by selling handmade mustache lapel pins, hair ties, and headbands. Our prostate cancer survivors also show their support for Movember in hopes to educate young men to get checked. "Movember is a unique way to encourage men to have that somewhat embarrassing conversation about prostate exams. Let's face it, men are less likely than women to go to their doctor for routine checkups and preventive screenings. We just want men to be proactive about their health and stay informed. The Movember campaign lends itself to a fun, easy discussion about an important topic," says Dr. Davinder Sekhon, urologist with Woodlands Medical Specialists.
Dr. Davinder Sekhon
Mustache Extraordinaire
Leader in Men’s Health X2 / Bella Fella / November 2016
Did You Know...
1 out of 7
MEN
WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH PROSTATE CANCER At age 40, men should start the conversation with their doctor about their prostate cancer risks and test options.
Prostate exams save lives and are now much easier with a simple blood test called the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test.
For more information about Woodlands Urology and Prostate Health, visit www.WoodlandsMed.com
Leader in Men’s Health November 2016 / Bella Fella / X3
A BROTHERHOOD with a mission
PHOTOS AND STORY BY PHILLIP MAKSELAN / BELLAMAGAZINE.COM
The Emerald Coast Beard and Mustache Alliance (ECBMA) started out in 2013 with co-founders Briana Taylor and John “John Boy” Stevenson, as a humorous notion for a group of like-minded beard and mustache enthusiasts get together and enjoy crafty adult beverages. “We then began planning events and socials, which grew quickly with beard and mustache owners and enthusiasts,” says Taylor. “When John Stevenson and I founded the group we enjoyed the characters and bourbon. However, as more members joined and men’s health became a topic for discussion, we knew gearing our identity toward a cause was necessary.” Since 2013, all proceeds raised by ECBMA have been donated to someone who has been directly affected by Testicular Cancer. “Testicular cancer awareness and facial hair have been related for some time now, so it seemed like the obvious choice,” Stevenson said. According to the Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation (TCAF), testicular cancer is the leading cancer in men age 15-35, but when detected early has an over 95 percent survival rate.
ECBMA co-founder John “John Boy” Stevenson. 4 / Bella Fella / November 2016
ECBMA vice president Chad Sanders.
Testicular cancer survivor and member of the Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation, Josh Cooper. “Being diagnosed with cancer, especially at a young age, is scary,” says Josh Cooper, a local survivor who now works with the TCAF to raise awareness. “There’s no way around that. I think that staying positive is extremely important though. After being diagnosed and during my treatments, I tried my best to keep occupied and do things that I enjoyed. Keep family and loved ones close, they were a big help for me.” He notes there are various forums for survivors online that can be important for information or just as an outlet and ear to listen. ECBMA vice president, Chad Sanders, says everything about the organization is local, from including local businesses and sponsors at events to the people it helps. “What was once an excuse to dress classy and sip scotch has grown into an organization that helps a lot of people, dress classy and sip scotch. The fact that we have pushed a lot of issues into the public conscious and raised a lot of money is impressive and genuine, but of course we must continue the good fight.”
With November upon us, the ECBMA is ramping up for a huge fight against testicular cancer for the fourth year in a row, and to be in full swing for “No Shave November.” The events will include a Whiskey Walk, Ballsy Education and more fun haircentric activities that promote community camaraderie and getting a message across. “If you had told me three years ago I’d be representing a group that raises awareness for men’s health and it would be done so by helping establish a group of hairy gentleman, I would laugh at such a story,” says Taylor. “Looking back now, I wouldn’t trade my brotherhood for the world.” To follow upcoming events visit www.facebook.com/ECBMA.
FACTS
ON TESTICULAR CANCER • Approximately 8,720 new cases will be diagnosed in 2016. • Approximately 380 men will succumb to the disease in 2016. • Only 1 in 263 males will develop the cancer (it is not common). • The average age for diagnosis is 33. Source: Cancer.gov
BECAUSE MEN MATTER, TOO Welcome to the first ever Bella Fella. Because the fellas matter, too! This is all about you, guys, and your health. We hear from the mustache guys crusading for testicular cancer awareness, and we look at prostate cancer. We hear from a local fella who came face-to-face with that No. 1 killer of men when he had a sudden, massive heart attack at just 52 years of age. Let’s talk about “manopause”, too, and look at low testosterone. Let’s talk about depression. Let’s talk about all those taboo topics that you tough guys might not like to discuss! Health and wellness is all about the physical and the mental. Take care of yourselves, men, the ladies love you!
10 Leading Causes of Death for Men
1. Heart Disease 2. Cancer 3. Accidents
6. Diabetes 7. Suicide 8. Influenza and
4. Chronic lower
9. Kidney diseases 10. Alzheimer’s
(unintentional injuries) respiratory diseases
5. Stroke
pneumonia
disease
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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November 2016 / Bella Fella / 5
AGING MALE? THERE’S A SYNDROME FOR THAT! STEVE SAVAGE / BELLAMAGAZINE.COM PHOTO SPECIAL TO BELLA FELLA
You’ve heard the horror stories surrounding menopause — it’s the subject of stand-up comedy and internet memes. All that attention — good and bad — keeps the subject top of mind for women when they begin to show symptoms. But what about men? It turns out we have our form of “aging male syndrome,” we just don’t like to talk about it. But as men age, they produce less testosterone than they did during their teen years and early adulthood, when production of this hormone peaks. Testosterone helps maintain sex drive, sperm production, pubic and body hair, and muscle and bone, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The decline in testosterone as men age is sometimes called aging male syndrome or late-onset hypogonadism. It’s also sometimes called “andropause,” like women’s decline in hormones is called menopause.
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As men age, they produce less testosterone.
But, men’s testes don’t stop making testosterone in the way that women’s ovaries stop making estrogen at menopause. And unlike women, who lose their ability to get pregnant when they reach menopause, men do not lose their fertility as they age. Hormone changes may cause other symptoms, though. All men have different experiences. Men’s hormone levels go down different amounts, and men may feel many effects or hardly any. And despite our hesitancy to talk about it, it’s a big deal. So pay attention to the symptoms that could mean you’ve got low testosterone: If you’re having any of the signs of low testosterone, talk to your doctor. While the symptom alone may just seem irritating, the change could be caused by diseases that can be dangerous. It’s as simple as a blood test to check, but reading the results are a little more tricky because normal levels of testosterone are different for each man. If you do have low testosterone, think about visiting a specialist, such as an endocrinologist or urologist, who can discuss possible treatments.
SIGNS OF LOW TESTERONE
• Feeling fat/weight gain • Problems sleeping • Less interest in sex • Feeling nervous or irritable • Erection problems • Problems with memory and concentration
• Increased urination • Depression • Loss of energy • Bone, muscle and hair loss Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
MUSTACHES FOR A
MISSION
WE SUPPORT
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Go to Central's Facebook page beginning November 1, 2016 to see what we're doing to help fight prostate cancer.
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PROSTATE
CANCER
ARE YOU AT RISK? STEVE SAVAGE / BELLAMAGAZINE.COM
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, as well as one of the leading causes of cancer death. And while you can’t change certain risk factors for the disease, such as your age and family history, research shows there are steps men can take to reduce their risk.
RISK
PREVENTION
TESTING
The “big knowns:” • Age: Prostate cancer is rare in men younger than 40, and the chance of having prostate cancer rises rapidly after age 50. About 6 in 10 prostate cancers are found in men older than 65. • Race/ethnicity: Prostate cancer occurs more often in African-American men and Caribbean men of African ancestry than in men of other races. African-American men are also more than twice as likely to die of prostate cancer as white men. • Family history: This is tricky. Prostate cancer seems to run in some families, which suggests there may be an inherited or genetic factor. Having a father or brother with prostate cancer more than doubles a man’s risk of developing this disease. But most prostate cancers occur in men without a family history of it. Factors with less clear effect on prostate cancer risk: • Diet: Men who eat a lot of red meat or high-fat dairy products appear to have a slightly higher chance of getting prostate cancer. These men also tend to eat fewer fruits and vegetables. Doctors aren’t sure which of these factors is responsible for raising the risk. • Obesity: Being very overweight does not seem to increase the overall risk of getting prostate cancer. However, some studies have found that obese men have a higher risk of getting more aggressive prostate cancer. • Chemical exposures: There is some evidence that firefighters can be exposed to chemicals that may increase their risk of prostate cancer. A few studies have suggested a possible link between exposure to Agent Orange, a chemical used widely during the Vietnam War, and prostate cancer, although not all studies have found such a link.
Can prostate cancer be prevented? There is no sure way to prevent prostate cancer. Many risk factors such as age, race and family history can’t be controlled. But there are some things you can do that might lower your risk for this disease. • Body weight, physical activity: The effects of body weight, physical activity and diet on prostate cancer risk are not clear, but there are things you can do that might lower your risk. Studies have found that men who are regularly physically active have a slightly lower risk of prostate cancer. Vigorous activity may have a greater effect, especially on the risk of advanced prostate cancer. • Diet: Several studies have suggested that diets high in certain vegetables (including tomatoes, cruciferous vegetables, soy, beans and other legumes) or fish may be linked with a lower risk of prostate cancer, especially more advanced cancers. Examples of cruciferous vegetables include cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. Although not all studies agree, several have found a higher risk of prostate cancer in men whose diets are high in calcium. There may also be an increased risk from consuming dairy foods.
When —and should — you be tested for early detection? The American Cancer Society recommends men have a chance to make an informed decision with their health care provider about whether to be screened for prostate cancer. The decision should be made after getting information about the uncertainties, risks and potential benefits of prostate cancer screening. The discussion about screening should take place at: • Age 50 for men who are at average risk of prostate cancer and are expected to live at least 10 more years. • Age 45 for men at high risk of developing prostate cancer. This includes African Americans and men who have a first-degree relative (father, brother or son) diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age (younger than age 65). • Age 40 for men at even higher risk (those with more than one firstdegree relative who had prostate cancer at an early age).
Source: Information provided by the American Cancer Society 8 / Bella Fella / November 2016
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INTELLECTUAL
WELLNESS MIKE SUCHCICKI / BELLAMAGAZINE.COM
So you’ve signed on the dotted line for that gym membership, found room in your den for the elliptical machine and you’ve laced up your brand new Nike runners. You have the body taken care of, but what about your brain? “Intellectual wellness is something we don’t talk about in our culture,” said Pensacola integrative psychologist and best-selling author Michael DeMaria, Ph.D. “With the increase in dementia and Alzheimer’s however, it is becoming more evident to people that the mind needs to be exercised, just as we exercise the body.” “For some people, doing crossword puzzles or Sudoku is helpful,” DeMaria said. “Others need more creative stimulation, such as picking up a new hobby, learning a musical instrument, a foreign language or simply
making sure you are spending time reading something that challenges you....we also know exercise and activities such as yoga and dancing are hugely beneficial to the mind as well as the body. The brain is actually part of the entire central and peripheral nervous system, so engaging the whole body in exercises that require balance, coordination provide some of the best boosts to mental wellbeing.” DeMaria said there’s nothing wrong with treating the brain just like any other muscle. “Constantly learning new things is a great benefit, as well as having a supportive community that one feels a part of,” he said. “We know the brain is as much an interpersonal and social organ as it is a biological organ, and it responds to communal activities in very positive ways, as long as the community is positive.” DeMaria, who is a four-time Grammy nominee as well as a mindfulness/meditation/ yoga teacher, said, “Creativity is central to my life as a musician, artist and author. It’s as much a spiritual activity for me as any other. For me, stepping outside of the box of your habitual patterns, learning to look at
things with the eyes of a child, being playful, listening to music, keeping a sense of humor, getting out of your head, and into your heart, following what brings you alive and gives you energy are all ways of boosting this mysterious and all important faculty of being human!” Creative and intellectual wellness opportunities abound in Pensacola:
•
First City Art Center (www. firstcityart.org) is a working art center that offers workshops in glassblowing, pottery, sculpture and more for adults and children. The Pensacola Museum of Art (www. pensacolamuseum.org) offers many classes, camps, workshops and outreach programs throughout the year. Jazz Pensacola (www.jazzpensacola. com) offers monthly Jazz Jams open to local musicians who would like to play jazz with other musicians. West Florida Public Libraries (www.mywfpl.com) puts on hundreds of interesting programs and events every year at its locations, all designed to educate and promote creativity.
• • •
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EXERCISE ROUTINES MUST ADJUST WITH AGE MIKE SUCHCICKI/ BELLAMAGAZINE.COM
One day Pensacola native Rick Cupp made the sad realization that his treadmill did not at all care how old he was getting. Cupp, 60, a pastor in Kenai, Alaska, had lived a life of almost constant activity. He had been a runner, a hiker, a golfer, a tennis player. For years he had played a weekly game of Wallyball — a type of volleyball played on
an indoor racquetball court where the ball is allowed to bounce off the walls — with his friends. He set up his treadmill in front of the TV set so he could keep up his running even during oppressive Alaska weather. In fact there was a time, he said, when, “I didn’t actually feel the need to exercise in order to be in good enough shape to really
enjoy the activities I like.” Then came the foot injury during a game of Wallyball about five years ago. “It took a lot longer to heal than in previous years,” Cupp said. That, he said, was the big clue that age, along with his body’s metabolism, was taking control of how he exercised.
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“The doctor said, ‘You’re older and your days of high-impact sports are through.’ I began to realize that my body had changed.” Cupp’s doctor instructed him to start thinking low-impact. He got rid of his treadmill, replacing it with an elliptical machine. He concentrated on hiking and golfing and said goodbye to Wallyball. Where once his body was able to pretty much take care of itself thanks to his frequent activity, “Now it’s actually become almost necessary to keep myself walking and going and exercising.” An avid photographer, he said, “I want to stay in good enough shape to be able to hike and take pictures in the wilderness. Besides, if I don’t exercise, the couch becomes too big a magnet to get off of.” Cupp had learned the lesson that more men are learning every day, that as the body ages, its specific exercise
requirements change. As a result of these changes, the wellness bar is raised for men, year after year. “There seems little doubt that the physical working capacity (PWC) of the older individual can be improved by very significant increments,” wrote Herbert A. deVries of the University of Southern California in his paper, “Exercise and the Physiology of Aging,” published with the National Academy of Kinesiology. “While this improved PWC may not add years to our life, it most certainly does add life to our years.” According to deVries, the important changes in bodies as they age occur at the cellular level, with the greatest impact on muscle fiber and respiratory capacity. It becomes a cruel cycle: As respiratory capacity diminishes, so too does muscle endurance and capacity for recovery.
SO WHAT CAN YOU DO? • Know your numbers: See your doctor and get some tests. Find out your blood sugar level, hs-CRP level (indicates if inflammation is present in the body) and testosterone. Discuss the results with your doctor and determine lifestyle fixes and possible supplements. • Try fasting: Intermittant fasting has shown to help lose weight which in turn helps reduce inflammation. A few days a week, try only eating between 10 a.m. and 6 or 7 p.m. • Grab those weights: Yes you need low-impact cardio, but you have got to combine it with strength training. Source: Men’s Journal
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Glen Grant
A HEART TO HELPING OTHERS LEAD A HEALTHY LIFE MOLLYE BARROWS / BELLAMAGAZINE.COM • PHOTO BY PHILLIP MAKSELAN / BELLA/PNJ.COM
consequences. Essentially one of the heart’s main arteries has a big blockage and that has the potential to take down part of the heart. Grant was hit by the widowmaker just one month before his 53rd birthday. The father of two never saw it coming. “I never really thought about it because I’m in decent shape and had no family history. I’m no spring chicken, but I can’t Glen Grant. say how many times I’ve heard ‘you were international business and global logistics at Florida the last one I expected to have a heart State University for his undergraduate degree and attack,’” Grant said. his Masters from Georgia Tech. He and his wife Grant grew up in Arkansas, graduating moved here to bring up their children, 8-year-old high school from the small town of El daughter Hunter, and 7-year-old son Fischer. Dorado before heading on to study
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Glen Grant has been active most of his life, with a love for the outdoors that includes climbing, mountain biking and diving. In fact, he and his wife of twelve years, Heather, met at a climbing gym in Atlanta. But a mountain bike ride with his neighbor six weeks ago ended like no other excursion ever has, with a heart attack. “I had no idea what I was about to experience,” Grant recalled. “I had something called a ‘widowmaker’, which gives you a feel for how bad things could have gone.” Doctors say no one knows exactly who came up with the term, but as far as a heart attack goes, it’s a big one with serious
14 / Bella Fella / November 2016
“We moved here from Candler Park in Atlanta, looking for a more wholesome place to raise our children, and we’ve never looked back,” said Grant. “As locals say, we live in paradise.” He also has a successful career, managing acquisition integration for a large technology company. However, the busy and productive life the Grant family has built nearly changed forever six weeks ago. Looking back now, Grant believes there were some, “almost imperceptible” warning signs like shortness of breath and cholesterol issues. He now takes medication and supplements to help keep his arteries clear, but a big part of his focus is on reducing stress. “During my ride I actually thought to myself, ‘if I don’t take a vacation I’m going to have a heart attack,’” Glen remembered. “They say stress is a killer, in my case it was a near miss, so it is something that I have to work on. Also, I would have gotten myself to the hospital sooner. The longer you wait the more permanent damage is done when your heart isn’t getting any blood.”
Grant’s heart attack was sobering for his entire family, threatening to take husband and father. He advises other families to be proactive about their wellbeing and put maximum effort into preventative care to head off problems before they start. “We all know things that we could be doing to be more healthy, so do it, if not for yourself then for your loved ones,” Grant urged. “Look into options other than traditional medicine, such as foods and supplements, to improve your lifestyle. “Avoid diets, steering more toward exercise and a healthy lifestyle,” Grant adds. “There are lots of great books on this, I would recommend ‘The Blue Zones’, which researches long living cultures and the healthy habits such as diet, exercise, family, community, faith and work. It would be great to see a Blue Zones Project City in our community.” Baptist Health Care’s director of community health & wellness, Meghan McCarthy, has been promoting the ‘blue zone’ philosophy and says creating a blue zone also means creating a culture of health that permeates the workplace, classroom and
neighborhoods. She encourages people, like Grant, to share their stories with the goal of empowering others to live healthier lives. “We think being healthy is about will-power or genetics, it’s much more determined by our zip code,” said McCarthy. “If your environment supports health, we make being healthy a lot easier. No man is in this alone. If there is support in all these places, at work, at home, in school, in the community — how powerful it is to share these stories and empower each other.” Grant hopes others will be inspired by his story and make the positive changes they need to lead healthy lives and hopefully spare themselves the experience of a near-fatal heart attack. “You have the most at stake and you have the highest interest in your own wellbeing, be proactive and take responsibility for yourself,” Grant recommended. “Do research if you have specific concerns. There’s a ton of information on the internet, pick and choose what you believe in. Thanks to their wives, my friends are now getting physicals, watching what they eat and generally being more health conscientious, which is great.”
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DEPRESSION
Everyone has a bad day every once in awhile. We get down, mopey, moody, feeling the blues. Then we shake it off. We see the sunshine, get our bearings and begin a brand new day. But when the bad days begin to stack up, when we’re down more than we’re up, and the darkness begins to affect our work, our relationships, our appearance and even our health, that’s more than just a simple case of the blues. It could be severe anxiety, depression, even post-traumatic stress disorder. That’s right: PTSD isn’t just born on the battlefield. Fortunately, there are ways we can recognize the symptoms of such disorders in ourselves and straightforward ways to deal with them. According to the World Health Organization, depression is a common illness worldwide, with an estimated 350 million people affected. Depression is different from usual mood fluctuations and short-lived emotional responses to challenges in everyday life. “Anyone can have a bad day,” said Lt. Louis Sanchez, licensed clinical social worker at Naval Hospital Pensacola. “You talk about it, you relax and the next day you start new and fresh. Someone who may be experiencing depression is experiencing these things more frequently, not necessarily every day, but will be experiencing the feeling of, ‘I don’t want to get up, I don’t want to go to work, I don’t want to tend to my children, I don’t want to tend to myself.’ If you find that you’re doing this, and it’s been more than 30 days, then you should really be looking at seeking some kind of help. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you need medication, but you could need help with some coping.” “Often the first signs will be interfering with daily life functioning,” said Michael DeMaria, Pensacola integrative psychologist. “Either decreased or increased appetite, decreased or increased need for sleep, more moody, poor concentration — not able to find enjoyment in the things that usually were enjoyable.” “I think the individual themselves can identify such things as risky behaviors, maybe drinking too much, also not caring about their appearance or their job or their family,” Sanchez said. Men should be aware that a stress 16 / Bella Fella / November 2016
IT’S MORE THAN FEELING BLUE MIKE SUCHCICKI / BELLAMAGAZINE.COM PHOTO BY PHILLIP MAKSELAN / BELLA/PNJ.COM
“Any traumatic experience can cause such stress.” — Lt. Louis Sanchez
disorder could stem from many experiences other than combat. “Any traumatic experience can cause such stress,” Sanchez said. “A natural disaster like fire in a home, for instance. Financial difficulties. Marital issues. A change in careers, or loss of a loved one. Those forks in the road that we cross, those kinds of things can cause someone to begin feeling depressed or anxious.” “In my opinion, just about everyone living on Planet Earth in the 21st century is suffering from post-traumatic stress,” said DeMaria. “We are all suffering from a certain degree of future shock, information overload and data smog in today’s world.” What, then, should a man do when faced with such stress, anxiety and depression? “Begin admitting to yourself that something is not right, then share this with someone who is emotionally available to hear and then, of course, seek professional help,” DeMaria said. Sanchez said the first line of attack against depression is the primary care doctor, but added, “They could talk to a chaplain, they could talk to a friend, they should definitely speak to their significant other or spouse. They should definitely speak to someone about it and say, ‘Have you noticed anything about me?’ And on many occasions the loved one is always going to say, ‘Yes, I’ve noticed those things,’ and then you go talk to your doctor.”
The fight against depression doesn’t always mean medication. There are natural ways to treat the onset of stress and anxiety. Pensacola integrative psychologist Michael DeMaria, Ph.D., said, “Proper neuronutrition, exercise and sleep are huge benefits. Twenty minutes of cardio can actually boost serotonin up to 100 percent; it also decreases cortisol and adrenaline levels. Meditation, journaling also are excellent resources. Also talking is a huge benefit – whether to a friend, pastor, priest, minister, or psychotherapist.” DeMaria, in fact, covers many of these techniques in his book “Peace Within” (www. peacewithinnow.com), which describes his own journey from suicidal depression to finding deeper peace within. Lt. Louis Sanchez, licensed clinical social worker at Naval Hospital Pensacola, said, “Number one, begin physical activity. Definitely go out, enjoy yourself. Maybe do some light exercise, maybe take a walk with a loved one. Also, people who tend to have very good community relationships and have good friendships tend to be more resilient, so they tend to be able to handle a lot of stresses better, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t need other help. The first thing is to ask for help.”