Stress doesn’t discriminate. In fact, almost every person experiences it. In some ways, stress can be a good thing. It can be used as a motivational tool, and it might even inspire you and boost your energy. Too much stress, however, can cause serious mental and physical health issues for both men and women. 

Unfortunately, we still live in a society where many men think they need to downplay stress and how it affects them. However, there are some unique signs of stress in men that are important to recognize. There are both physical and psychological signs of stress in men that you shouldn’t ignore. Let’s cover a few.

1. Pain Sensitivity

Stress tends to boost testosterone levels in men, which can make it easier to cope with pain. However, too much stress is also linked to chronic pain, which can cause everything from muscle aches to migraines. If you feel like you’re constantly battling some kind of pain, it could be due to excessive stress in your life, especially as your hormones try to battle back against it.

2. You’re Sick All the Time

Chronic stress can quickly weaken your immune system. Not only does that make you feel weaker, but it also makes you more susceptible to sickness. If you’ve never had to deal with a weak immune system in the past, but you find yourself getting sick more often than not, take a look at the amount of stress in your life. Generally, you won’t experience anything “major,” but you might find that you’re getting colds and infections more frequently.

3. Erectile Dysfunction

While ED might not be the first sign of stress, it’s important not to rule stress out as a potential cause if it’s something that you’re dealing with. If you have no other health issues but are struggling with ED, stress could be the culprit. In fact, stress is the leading cause of erectile dysfunction, as it impacts the part of the brain that increases blood flow to the penis. When that’s interrupted, you might have trouble getting or keeping an erection.

4. Behavioral Signs

Behavioral signs of stress can be hard to pinpoint because everyone can experience the effects of stress differently. However, some of the most common behavioral stress symptoms in men include:

• Changes in eating habits

• Misuse of alcohol

• Social withdrawal

• Exercising less

• Changes in sleeping habits

Many of these behaviors are used to combat stress, such as drinking too much and eating what you shouldn’t. However, some can be the cause of stress, as you feel less motivated and more depressed.

5. Physical Signs

There are also plenty of physical manifestations of stress that shouldn’t be ignored. If there’s one good thing about the physical signs of stress, it’s that they’re often easy to identify. 

If you don’t have any underlying health conditions but find that you’re struggling with the following symptoms, consider taking stock of your stress levels: 

• Headaches

• Digestive issues

• Heartburn

• Fatigue

• Difficulty staying focused

There are many more signs to look for when it comes to stress. Some are unique to men, while others impact everyone. What’s important is that you pay attention to these signs so you can lower the risk of psychological symptoms. Stress can lead to depression, anxiety, irritability, and even anger if it goes unchecked. Getting to the root cause of your stress is essential, so you can start to find healthy ways of coping. 

If you’re struggling with stress and need help working through it, consider seeking therapy. You and your therapist can work together to identify sources of stress in your life, some you may not even be aware of, and work on developing more effective ways of coping.

About: Chanderbhan Psychological Services is a therapy practice located in Laredo, Texas. We help individuals and couples who are struggling in different areas of their lives gain the clarity they need to grow and change. We also offer telehealth to individuals located in the wider State of Texas. To read blogs on mental health and relationships, visit our website.