F3 Mental Battle 2023 – the Wreck

Preamble:

This year marks the fourth year for the Mental Battle WOD (workout of the day).  This WOD was prepared by @F3WinstonSalem. #RESPECT to @Spicoli for the workout design and @Giles, an NC licensed psychologist, provided the mental health statistics.

Warm-O-Rama:

Mosey to playground; DiSCCs Initiated during OYO stretches:

• Di = Disclaimer
• C = Q had fully charged cell phone
• C = 2 PAX were actively certified and/or trained in the past 12 months in CPR
• S = Safety warning – when on a mosey, warn the PAX behind you of any obstacles

Side Straddle Hops x12
Hill Billy x 15

Mosey to Football field

The Thang:

The Layout for the Workout:
Endzones and sidelines made a rectangle with the center of box is 50 yard line.  Each of the four corners will be a specific station.

Starting in the middle, run to Station 1, do the exercise, then run back to middle, do burpees, then run to Station 2, do that exercise, then run back to middle, burpees, and so on. Once you’ve gone to all 4 stations with burpees in between, that round is over and you’ll progress to the next round. Add an exercise at each station each round.

For example: during round 3, at Station 1, you’ll do ten hand release merkins, ten clap merkins, and ten toe tap merkins, then run to the middle, do eight burpees, go to Station 2 and do the three exercises there, etc.

1 round= 1 trip to all 4 stations, coming back to the middle in between

***For the First Round Only***
For the first round, keep the PAX together. At the finish of Round One, the below  statistics about mental health when the PAX come to the middle to do burpees.

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)

(Double Burpee count each round, so Round 4 would be 16 burpees each time you come to the middle)

Station 1 

Round 1 – Hand Release Merkins x10
Round 2 – Add Clap Merkins x10
Round 3 – Add Toe Touch Merkins x10
Round 4 – Add Mike Tysons x10

Station 2 

Round 1 – Shoulder Tap x15 (Double Count)
Round 2 – Add Mountain Climbers x15 (Double Count)
Round 3 – Add Peter Parkers x15 (Double Count)
Round 4 – Add Donkey Kicks x15 (Double Count)

Station 3

Round 1 – Monkey Humpers x20
Round 2 – Add Bonny Blairs x20 (Single Count)
Round 3 – Add Side Lunges x20 (Single Count)
Round 4 – Add Jump Squats x20

Station 4 

Round 1 – LBCs x25
Round 2 – Add Freddy Mercuries x25 (Double Count)
Round 3 – Add Heels to Heaven x25
Round 4 – Add Superman 25X

Modify as necessary options were given.

__________

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).

COT:

I personally believe that #HighImpactMen are fearless in seeking help for their own mental help and are equally fearless in encouraging others to do the same. 

• I only began seeking professional help after a friend admitted that they were already getting professional help

Other lessons my personal struggles with mental health have taught me:

• In never had the slightest trouble with mental health until I turned 43
• It can happen to anyone, and often shows up later in life
• Mental health issues, if left untreated, become mental health problems
• Mental health problems, if left untreated, become worse over time
• Drinking will not help to resolve my mental health issues
• Drinking will, however, help to undermine my marriage, career, health and friendships

Naked-Man Moleskin:

Thanks again to the boys in Winston-Salem and follow the F3 Mental Battle on Twitter at @F3Battle and on the Nation’s Slack as well at #f3-mental-battle-challenge.

I am utterly grateful for the F3 CoT. It brings all PAX together; gives each man a chance to listen and be heard; bring praises and concerns to the man next to him.  The CoT is the most powerful of the five F3 principles. It allows for forming and strengthening bonds between each of us.