The Millstone Times July 2021

♥ HEALTH & WELLNESS Why Are Men More Likely Than Women to Get Skin Cancer? By, Lauren Kowlacki

Men tend to get more sun exposure than women. Men spend more time outside over their lifetimes than women, and they’re more likely to work outdoors than women. Women’s personal care products, like moisturizer and makeup, often contain sunscreen, while many products for men do not. Sunburn, which can increase your risk of getting skin cancer, is common among white men, young adults, and men who tan indoors. When outside on a sunny day for more than an hour, only about 14% of men use sunscreen on both their face and other exposed skin. It’s easy to protect yourself from UV exposure. Wear long leave shirts and hats as they offer the best protection. If you’re wearing a baseball cap or short-sleeved shirt, make sure to put sunscreen on your ears, neck, and arms. Stay in the shade as much as possible between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., which are peak times for sun. If you work outdoors, ask about sun protection at your job, like wearing sun-protective clothing. Also, avoid indoor tanning.

The Grey Rock Method: The Art of Disengaging By Bianca Battaglia “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” This famous adage, a common saying transmitted across generations, asserts that while physical violence can hurt a person, the verbal insults one may be subjected to will not hurt them. While the short mantra is a motivational message of strength and perseverance in the face of adversity, the fact of the matter is that it is simply not true—words most certainly can hurt you. Emotional abuse is a series of toxic behaviors in which abusers control their victims through emotional manipulation. Emotional abuse does not involve physical violence, but rather encompasses all forms of verbal abuse, such as yelling, shaming, criticizing, or name-calling, as well as intimidation or gas- lighting. It also includes things such as refusing communication or withholding affection, isolating victims from their support systems, and exploitation. The perpetrator of emotional abuse can be anyone—family members, romantic partners, friends, neighbors, coworkers—and the abuse can occur any- where, at any time. Emotional abuse significantly impacts a person’s daily life. People suffering from emotional abuse are at risk of developing or exacerbating a variety of health issues, such as persistent stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and chronic pain. Moreover, emotional abuse can potentially escalate to physical abuse. Given the serious consequences emotional abuse can have on the victim’s mental and physical health and well-being, it is fundamental that people who are suffering from emotional abuse develop strategies to combat it, especially if completely avoiding contact with the abuser is difficult or impossible. One technique to cope with emotional abuse is to use the “grey rock method.” Utilizing this technique, one can communicate with their abusers in a detached and unresponsive manner. For example, you should not initiate contact with the abusive person, and during conversations with them, remain disengaged. Try to speak briefly, and provide short, clipped responses. Make sure you communicate with them without any emotion or inflection in your voice. Furthermore, avoid direct eye contact with your abuser, and keep any personal or sensitive information private. By implementing these actions, you begin to resemble a literal grey rock. Ultimately, emotional abusers use conflict and drama to take control in any and all situations, and want to trigger a reaction from their victims. Aptly named, the grey rock method is useful since it requires the very opposite of what emotional abusers require—attention. By responding to abusers in a disinterested way, abusers gradually stop antagonizing their victims once they realize their behavior is no longer allowing them to take control. While the grey rock method may not work for everyone, it is certainly worth trying. However, if you are experiencing severe emotional abuse, the best way to seek help is by contacting a professional counselor, psychologist, or therapist. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/traversing-the-inner-terrain/201609/when-is-it-emotional-abuse https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/effects-of-emotional-abuse https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/grey-rock#why-use-it https://www.healthline.com/health/grey-rock#know-when-to-use-it

26 The Millstone Times

July 2021