Stress Symptoms in Men

Tap to Read ➤ Stress is the body's reaction to harmful situations. Stress can result in various physical and psychological complications. Here are the symptoms related to excessive stress in men. Kundan Pandey

"The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another." - William James

Stress is unfortunately, a part and parcel of today's lifestyle. It can adversely affect our well-being and health. Generally, it is of two types: Eustress : It's a type of stress that is often termed as helpful stress. Distress : A damaging type of stress, it occurs when the person is unable to cope with the daily pressures of life.

Stress is considered to be an individual experience, and a person's ability to deal with stress can differ invariably from another. When it comes to recognizing signs, men are the worst at it. Recognizing stress for men is often assumed as a sign of weakness in their personality, so men generally tend to ignore the initial symptoms of stress.

Symptoms of Stress in Men

Men, like women, are affected by stress and can experience physical and psychological problems due to severe stress symptoms.

Extreme Exhaustion

The most common stress symptom in men is lack of energy and exhaustion. A feeling of weakness and loss of energy engulfs the body, and the person is unable to concentrate on his daily work.

Even if he works for a small duration, he experiences extreme fatigue. This fatigue is not only physical, rather it's a type of mental crushing of the individual's ability to take on the pressures of work. No amount of sleep and rest works in this case, and the person feels demotivated after every failed attempt to rejuvenate his energy levels.

Irregular Sleeping Patterns

Disturbed sleeping patterns and in some acute cases, insomnia are the major signs of excessive stress. The person experiencing irregular sleeping patterns will either sleep too much or probably, will only sleep for few hours every night.

Moreover, the disordered sleep may be accompanied by nightmares. Long continued irregular sleeping patterns result in sleeping disorders that are more psychological rather than being caused by any physical problems.

Excessive Anxiety

Excessive worrying disrupts the mental stability of an individual, and the sufferer worries for even small things that require little or no attention. Constant worrying creates a vicious cycle of negative thinking and ruins the mental peace of the individual. The person lives in a world of fear, tension and worry that harms the mind and body in the long run.

Irritability

Sudden mood swings and behavioral changes are usually the first indicators that a person is under tremendous stress. We all know how irritable it feels when we are under severe stress while at work or home (due to various reasons).

Under severe stress, we are often at the threshold of losing patience, and even a small problem can provoke us to be extremely rude or harsh in behavior. The frustration building inside our mind and body erupts in the form of anger and often leads to aggressive behavior towards friends or family members.

Guilt and Feeling of Worthlessness

The intensity of emotional upheaval when the individual undergoes the feeling of guilt escalates stress. A deep emotional anguish about past events or failures leads to a feeling of worthlessness in the mind of the sufferer. The individual continually drags himself in an orgy of self-pity and prefers isolation.

Substance Abuse

Some men going through stress will try to face it and cope with it. But others will try and run as far as possible from the stress and burden that they are facing. Taking the help of drugs and alcohol can be a symptom of developing stress in men. Drugs and alcohol will affect the health of an individual and will attract problems in family life as well.

Few More Indicators

Loss of appetite Muscle ache Chest pain Erratic heartbeat Low sex drive Headaches Procrastination Excess sweating High blood pressure

Increased perspiration Facing difficulty while relaxing Weight gain or excessive weight loss Increased use of drugs and alcohol Relationship changes with close ones Overeating or Anorexia nervosa

Be it be a male or female, everyone may go through stressful times either at home, work, or both. Although, a little stress now and then is not a big concern, if it turns into chronic stress, then it may lead to some serious health troubles, some of which are as follows:

Consequences of Long-term Stress

Obesity Heart diseases Menstrual problems Eating disorders Hair problems Skin infections Depression and anxiety Sexual dysfunction

Stress can be tackled by sustained efforts of the individual and the ones close to him. An individual experiencing these symptoms need not be hesitant in seeking a counselor's help. The sufferer can also share his experience with the family members and chalk out a plan to kick stress out of his life.

Developing healthy habits, like yoga and meditation are a boon for emotional and physical health. Lower your expectations, and start accepting things the way they are.

Exercise a little, eat proper meals, get enough rest, spend the weekends sightseeing, listen to music, or visit the spa.

These are just a few ways to help yourself relax and beat stress. The point to be conveyed here is to indulge in anything that will be keep you happy and relaxed. With determination and the urge to live a healthier, happier, and richer life, any amount of stress can be eliminated.