Look into these anxiety attack symptoms in men, to further understand how and why anxiety attacks take place. Help yourself to get through anxiety, and to avoid its overwhelming effects…
Why Men Might be the Target?
Men, by nature, don’t spill the beans easily if something is worrying them. They believe that they would be able to overcome stressful times by just continuing with the work on hand. Eventually, it all bottles up, because they fail to seek help and TALK out their problems.
Anxiety takes root from anything to do with health, work, family, constantly living in dread, worry, fear, pressure from people or situations, relationships stress, work overload and so on. You need to calm down, and take things as they come with an unwavering change in attitude, by not letting anxiety attacks take over. Here you’ll find out how to cope with the anxiety attack symptoms and how to handle this problem through treatment.
According to The National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety attacks fall under class “panic disorder”. In short, anxiety attacks are no different from panic attacks.
Also, going by the latest revised manual (DSM-IV-TR) of the American Psychiatric Association, the following symptoms occur within 10 minutes of a panic attack: palpitations, shivering, perspiration, nauseous feeling, discomfort in the abdomen, losing control over feelings, feeling unsteady or faint, and choking feeling.
Causes of Anxiety Attack in Men
There are many things that revolve around a man’s life that can make him want to reach a point where he hits that anxiety brick wall. You’ll see here what causes anxiety attacks to take place.
- Depression history in one’s genetics
- Sleep disorder
- Grieving
- Meltdown/breakdown
- Mental illness (bipolar disorder)
- Hypertension drugs like corticosteroids that can trigger anxiety
- No exercise or physical activity
- Illnesses of other kinds, that one has had for a while
Symptoms Seen in Men
The overload of anxiety when it reaches breaking point, can lead to something called Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) which is the cause of worrying every day about one’s problems, that doesn’t really require one to panic. These people are constantly worrying about how to handle a situation, about its outcome and where it’s going, and what to do about it. This in turn interferes with their ability to stay focused at work, and can cause damage and strain between families and friends. The anxiety symptoms in men are:
- Insomnia: This varies from not sleeping long enough to experiencing total loss of sleep.
- Low energy levels: There might not be too much physical exertion, but mental stress can down a person, leading to low energy levels.
- Alcohol/drugs intake: This might work initially (so you think!), but with passing of days the consumption of either, would only rise, giving no solution to your stress and anxiety.
- Lack of Focus: This would mean not being able to focus on work or other activities for a long period.
- He might feel like he is of no worth.
- Weight loss
- Easily irritable
- Excess worrying
- Avoiding social gatherings and functions
- Feeling tired all the time
- Unrealistic analysis of one’s problems
- Frequently visiting the bathroom
- Easily frightened
- Nausea, Headaches, Indigestion: the gut refuses to work fine at such times, due to fight or flight response.
- Tense muscles
- Restless behavior
- No personal hygiene (not shaving/bathing)
- Constantly touching one’s face or being fidgety
- Suicidal thoughts
- Heart palpitations
- Trembling
- Perspiration
- Sensitive to sound and light
- Hyperventilation
- Loss of sex drive
- No appetite
Preventive Measures
There are ways that you can reduce your chances of getting an anxiety attack, by following some helpful tips on how to cut down on anxiousness, through these anxiety cures.
- Exercise thrice a week, or go for walks.
- Follow a healthy balanced diet, and don’t skip out on breakfast and lunch.
- Ask a pharmacist for over-the-counter medicines or any other natural remedial ways to deal with anxiety.
- Take up yoga/medication classes, to help ease your mind and body.
- Go for counseling to deal with death of a loved one, or for any other traumatic reasons.
- Cut down on your intake of caffeine-rich drinks, and opt for decaffeinated drinks instead.
Treatment Options for Men
There are many anxiety medicines and prescription drugs that are available, to help you control and keep it at bay. These are the common medicines found in the market, that help people with anxiety problems.
- Antidepressants (Tricyclics, etc.)
- SSRIs (Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)
- Beta Blockers
- MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors)
- Drugs for anxiety
- Natural therapies
- Psychological therapy
Anxiety can be destructive over the long run, and you need to avoid sources that make these feelings of anxiousness grow three-fold, leading to an out of control whirlwind of emotion. Manage things in a calm fashion, like taking a deep breath during a heated scenario or taking time off from stressful situations, to ease that palpitating heart. In time, you’ll experience a more healthier way of living, without having to constantly worry about what’s going to happen next.
Disclaimer: This article is for informative purposes only and does not in any way attempt to replace the advice offered by an expert on the subject.
