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Healthy Living: Men

Dateline: 04/17/98

I recently had the pleasure of reading a new book, The Gay Men's Wellness Guide. Created by the National Lesbian and Gay Health Association, the volume covers all aspects of health, physical and mental.

The Wellness Guide is written for people like you and me (okay, I'm not a man, but it's written so that anybody can understand it, and doesn't get bogged down in terms that make me want to go "Huh!?") and I can see it being used as a reference in any household.

The book starts out on the right note, providing methods and information for finding gay-affirmative health care. I know that when I see a doctor, they always ask me, "What type of birth-control do you use?" I look at them sweetly and respond, "T" (my other half's name). I'm sure that there are similar questions that might not make sense for a gay man, and finding a doctor who knows the right questions to ask and whose treatment and care not only takes into account the different health needs of a gay man but in addition does not bring a bias to the examination room is an extremely important part of well-being and health care.

Mental issues that are dealt with include Coming Out, Depression, general Well-Being and dealing with both daily and extreme stress. Common physical ailments are examined, and alternate treatments are explained in addition to more traditional forms of treatment, both preventative and curative.

A full section of the book is dedicated to sex and sexual responses (and includes the information you've always wanted to know to determine where you truly fall on the "size" scale). How sexual response works - and what's going on when the mind is willing and the body - is covered very well. I learned things I never knew about what goes on in a man's head, and I suspect that there are surprises for those of you who already felt you knew it all as well.

Self-image and the problems that can plague us daily are also discussed, with references and resources provided to meet the needs of any gay man.

When I first picked up Wellness Guide I was expecting more of a health book. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that I was wrong, because it's much more than that. While the health coverage is excellent, the book is a total package. All aspects of a gay man's life are covered, and no matter what you're feeling or what information you're seeking, you'll find it in the Wellness Guide, and find that you're not alone.

In Pride,
Deborah