Effects of Stress on Men

The effects of stress on men are very different to those of women. Even though, as the saying goes, men live on Mars and women on Venus, both share a common enemy; stress. Stress can present itself in different manners, and men and women will deal with their stressors in various ways. While a woman may look for the support of friends, men have other methods.

Some believe that a woman’s body produces a specific chemical by the name of oxytocin that can help ease stress, and which is boosted in power by estrogen. When men stress, they can produce high levels of testosterone. The testosterone can have the opposite effect, blocking the oxytocin, and instead making them more hostile, withdrawn, and angry. A woman who comes home from work may calls friends or focus on her children. Men, on the other hand, will seek out a quiet place of their own to relax, unwind, and can respond harshly if bothered, even by his children. Even though his wife may want to try and help by talking to him about his day, it is better that he be left alone, as that is what his body requests he do.

Due to a woman’s ability to cope with and ease stress, she is less likely to develop the same problems as a man. Men are actually more in danger of developing health conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure), aggressive behavior, or abusing alcohol and drugs. These are only new problems that would add to your stress, as opposed to relieving it, but for some men it may be difficult to resist, and for something like hypertension, you may not even realize you have it until a visit to your doctor.

Stress on men, no matter how bad, is never a legitimate excuse for excessive violent behavior or alcohol and drug abuse. If stress is becoming too much of a problem in your life, you will have to fight your hormonal demands and seek out help, whether it is talking to someone or finding a way to reduce the stressors from your life.