Anxiety affects everyone: the old and the young, men and women. Unfortunately, due to society’s ideas on mental health concerns, sometimes men’s anxiety might go unchecked and untreated. Rather than facing their health concerns head-on, men might view that as a sign of weakness and avoid the conversation altogether.
We’re here to let you know that you do not need to suffer in silence. Recognizing the symptoms of anxiety in men is the first step you can take to learn to live with your anxiety. To learn more about what your anxiety may look like as a man, continue on.
What is anxiety?
Before going deeper into anxiety symptoms, it might be helpful to understand what anxiety actually is. Very simply, anxiety is a deep-seated worry, usually combined with physical symptoms.
Chronic anxiety is anxiety that is persistent over several days or even weeks. Different anxiety conditions include Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and General Anxiety Disorder. While there are other facets of chronic anxiety, we think these are a few important things to know before moving forward.
Common emotional and mental symptoms
Emotional symptoms are the traits usually associated with chronic anxiety. These are the symptoms that will be easy to associate with anxiety. All of these symptoms may vary in severity in each person; there is no set rule for how these symptoms appear.
Some recognizable emotional symptoms of anxiety In men are:
- Excessive worrying or fear
- Increased irritability and agitation
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feelings of paranoia
- Losing your train of thought or absentmindedness
Common physical symptoms
When thinking of a mental illness, sometimes the assumption is that there are no physical symptoms. This is usually not the case. Your body is very good at recognizing when you are in distress, and a lot of the time your anxiety will likely have physical symptoms along with emotional ones. However, these symptoms might be more difficult to associate with anxiety.
Common physical symptoms of anxiety in men include:
- Excessive sweating when not performing physical activity
- Tight and uncomfortable muscles
- The sensation of choking or having something in your throat
- Pounding or racing heart
- Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
Although these are usually common symptoms of anxiety, remember that symptoms look different for everyone. There is a chance that your symptoms may not be listed above. If you think that you may be living with anxiety but are not sure, take stock of your thoughts and symptoms in a journal to be better in tune with your mind and body.
Treatment for Anxiety
The good news about all of this is that there are tried and true solutions and treatments for your anxiety. There are many resources out there that make it easy to find help for your mental health concerns. We took the liberty to compile a list of some treatment options for you.
- Keep it moving: Sometimes, your mental health makes it difficult to remain active. However, physical activity is one of the best things you can do to improve your mood. Try going on short walks or playing sports, like tennis or basketball, to squeeze in your daily activity.
- Reset your routine: Making a plan for each day can help you to really become rooted in your routine. This means that you can organize your time to mitigate the risk of surprises throughout the day. By knowing what’s coming next, you will have less fear of the future.
Above all else, remember that having a mental illness does not make you less of a man. Living with chronic anxiety is something a lot of men deal with. You are not alone, and there is always someone to help you through your struggles. If you are interested in seeking professional help for your specific anxieties, reach out to our team today to schedule an appointment.