Anxiety Symptoms in Men: Signs to Look For and Treatment Options

A man may be many things to many people – a friend, husband, brother, colleague, boss, hero, or villain – but at the heart of it all, he’s still just a person, with everything that entails. Anxiety and anxiety disorders are a daily reality for millions of people across the world. Though they typically affect women, anxiety and anxiety disorders also affect many men. Discerning the common anxiety symptoms in men can help a man find effective treatment options.

How do men experience anxiety?

Many men don’t often discuss their problems, and that includes struggles with anxiety or anxiety disorders. Anxiety affects people of all stripes, and it affects people regardless of gender.

Men tend to put off getting support when they need it because of ideas of what masculinity is, including the thought that they’re meant to be tough and self-reliant. This mindset only makes it harder for men to not only acknowledge issues but to find solutions to them.

Anxiety is a natural reaction to situations that are or appear threatening. It’s the feeling of uneasiness, dread, tension, or fear that often attends these experiences. People don’t all feel anxious for the same reason, and they respond to it differently, too. While anxiety is often associated with symptoms such as nervousness, sweating, or a rapid heartbeat, anxiety may also go beyond these symptoms.

When men experience anxiety, they are more likely than women to deal with their anxiety through substance abuse. This might differ from women who will often turn to avoidance as a coping mechanism. Anxiety in men is often caused by issues such as family dynamics, work stress, heart disease, traumatic events, or a decline in testosterone levels.

Men experience various types of anxiety and anxiety disorders, and these include obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. These various disorders occur and are diagnosed when a man becomes overwhelmed by his anxiety to the point that it interferes with his daily functioning.

Men may also experience performance anxiety relating to sex more commonly than women. For men, there may be worries about satisfying their partner or comparing favorably to other men, or it may be rooted in issues in the relationship or poor body image. This type of anxiety makes a person so preoccupied that they struggle to become aroused. Performance anxiety also comes in the form of struggling to speak or perform before a group or in public.

Signs of anxiety in men

Anxiety can affect anyone, regardless of gender. Sometimes, however, anxiety symptoms in men may be different from signs of anxiety in women. This is why it’s so important for you to learn about the causes and anxiety symptoms in men, as well as how you can find help with anxiety.

For instance, men are more likely to report physical symptoms such as loss of appetite, headache, body tremors, feelings of losing control, and the perception of being a failure when compared to women of similar age. Anxiety will have physical and emotional symptoms, and some common signs of anxiety in men to look out for include the following:

Persistent worry or fear

Excessive concern about everyday things, even when there’s no real reason to worry.

Fatigue or low energy

Feeling tired, sluggish, or lacking motivation.

Restlessness or feeling on edge

Feeling agitated, jittery, restless, or an intense desire to move around.

Having difficulty concentrating

Struggling to focus, make decisions, remember things, and being absentminded.

Mood swings

Feeling short-tempered, snappish, agitated, or experiencing sudden mood changes.

Physical symptoms

These include symptoms such as rapid heartbeat or palpitations; excessive sweating; trembling or shaking; shortness of breath or feeling like you’re choking; gastrointestinal distress such as feelings of nausea, abdominal discomfort, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); headaches, muscle tension, or chest pains. Other physical symptoms include sleep disturbances such as insomnia or excessive sleepiness; having vertigo or feeling dizzy.

Avoidance behaviors

This includes avoiding situations, places, or activities due to fear or anxiety.

Racing thoughts or rumination

Persistent, intrusive thoughts or mental images that are disturbing or unsettling.

Hypervigilance

Feeling constantly and overly vigilant or on the lookout for potential threats or dangers.

Feeling overwhelmed or hopeless

Struggling to cope with daily life, feeling like you’re losing control, or experiencing feelings of dread. One may also experience low self-esteem.

Catastrophic thinking

Thinking that the worst-case scenario will occur, and frequently worrying about things going wrong in the worst possible way.

Treatment options for anxiety symptoms in men

Anxiety is treatable, and seeking help signals strength, self-assurance, and security, not weakness. Left untreated, anxiety can wreak havoc in a man’s life, and it can be quite debilitating. Therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy can treat the symptoms of anxiety. Medications, which include testosterone replacement therapy, can be an effective treatment for anxiety in men.

In addition to these, making lifestyle changes can also make a huge difference in anxiety. Sleeping better, getting regular exercise, eating well, and cutting down on caffeine can all improve your mental and emotional health.

If you find one or more of the signs of anxiety in your life, consider reaching out to a mental health professional for support and a proper diagnosis. A professional such as a counselor or therapist can help you develop coping strategies and work through any underlying issues that are causing the anxiety. The professionals at our location are ready to help. Contact our office to schedule an appointment today.