Day 12.

Ok, a brief respite!

I don't remember if I said anything about my brush with a depression diagnosis.

It was my second year of teaching and I was working away from my hometown. I thought I'd do okay being away from friends and family. I can call, chat, and all that. The work was hard as I was teaching kids I didn't have a lot of training or experience working with. I'd come home at 7pm or later from staying at school working, and just go straight to bed. Too tired to make food, or eat. I thought sleep would give me the energy but I found it harder and harder to get out of bed. Get out of the house. It was all a slog. It was so difficult to do.

I was showing up to work late and almost got in trouble. I eventually went to see a doctor at a walk-in clinic and we talked it through. He gave me an assessment and told me I was at risk for a depression diagnosis and referred me to a psychologist. I ended up only seeing the psychologist once since I didn't really have benefits to pay for the cost. It was helpful though to know that I might have been going through something that I can't just simply "willpower" out.

In the end, I managed to reconnect with my friends that year. Every weekend, I'd drive back to my parents' place, and I'd hang out around town to play board games, video games, eat food, watch movies, all that.

I didn't realize before that I needed that so much. Connection, friends, and family. I know it sounds sappy and that's probably how I felt about it back then. The "Lone Wolf" persona that so many men in media portray was something that I thought was me. I'm manly right? Well, I'm manly enough to admit that I need to keep connected with friends and family.

#movember2022 it's the last day! It just got quite cold here and snow has graced our streets. Man or not, if you have someone who is comfortable giving you a hug do so! It releases oxytocin, the hormone for attachment and social bonding. It can make people feel better or seek social contact! My life improved when I embraced hugging! Let's teach guys that it's cool to hug! Last day to donate to men's mental and physical health at https://movember. Com/m/achanmo?mc=1

Day 5! I'm waiting for my friends to arrive for dinner and some board games. I think that having things to look forward to has been a game changer for my mental health. I was at my lowest when I started teaching and was living a bit further than where I grew up. Reconnecting with my friends and planning events to look forward to has really helped me cut through the lethargy of the daily grind. I love my job but I don't think I can sustain my energy if it was the only thing in my life. Hope you all find things to look forward to!

You can donate to men's health at my movember campaign page https://movember.com/m/achanmo?mc=1

Day 1 of Movember 2022. "In the Western world, males die by suicide three to four times more often than do females." - Wikipedia

Part of this is due to it being abnormal for men to talk about their feelings. Let's help them out with some fundraising towards men's mental health. Let's normalize feelings for men that aren't just joy and anger. Donations greatly appreciated at https://movember.com/m/achanmo

It's another November Movember and I'm here to raise money for men's health. I will be talking about mental health things that men deal with from my perspective. I had some hits this year and I'll talk more about it as we go along. If you'd like to donate please check out my donation page at https://ca.movember.com/mospace/13592729?utm_medium=app&utm_source=android&utm_campaign=share-mospace

#movember2020 day 30. Last day!

Saying goodbye to this spiky face thing!

Thanks for hanging with me through yet another November. Thanks for all the love and support! Our team raised $1240 for men's health and cancer! Big shout out to Mr. J who runs Way of the Wrench! https://youtu.be/t8--R3-mDdQ

It's never too late to donate to health and wellness! I'm at movember.com/m/achanmo

#movember2020 day 25. I'm mentally and physically exhausted! Managing a smile because I know behaviours can influence attitudes (thanks Psych class). I'm on to teaching grade 8s daily now and they are a blast. It just drains a lot of energy for me. Going to put things back in order and then hit up some video games #ffxiv to reset my brain.

Donate to beating men's cancers and preventing suicide at movember.com/m/achanmo

#movember2020 day 14. 2 weeks! My students do shaggy way better than me! New health orders in BC means not being allowed to hang out with friends. I've already reduced my bubble because I'm teaching students this year so nothing had changed for me. However, I do find it gets easier when I make the effort to phone up my parents on a video call. No, it's not the same but I'm glad that tech can help us keep in touch. Felling down? Call a friend! Feeling great? Spread that around by calling a friend!

Donate to beating men's cancers and preventing suicide at movember.com/m/achanmo

#movember2020 day 4. I don't grow moustaches but that doesn't make me less of a man. What's the big deal with being a man anyways? Let men know that it's okay to not be what society sees as an ideal man. We need to be OUR ideal men.

Follow my "moustache" at and donate to men's mental health at movember.ca/m/achanmo

Here we go! Let's work together to end cancer. Let's learn more about men's mental health.