WHY MEN NEED TO ADMIT TO ANXIETY

ANXIETY disorders are ranked as the sixth largest contributor to life-long health concerns worldwide with an estimated 3.6% (264 million) of the global population living with anxiety.

It affects nearly one in five adults in the US, and in South Africa, the South African Stress and Health study, which investigated the lifetime prevalence of common mental disorders, anxiety disorders were found to be the most prevalent class of lifetime mental disorders at 15.8%.

On average, one in eight men will have depression and one in five men will experience anxiety at some stage of their lives. And even though statistics point towards women being twice as likely to suffer from anxiety disorders, the reason might be more social than scientific.

The stigma associated with anxiety disorders considers the condition as “unmanly” and a sign of weakness. This is the very reason men are less likely to talk about their anxiety, and instead drown it with poor coping behaviours, increasing their risk of the anxiety or depression going unrecognised and untreated.

Men are far less likely to seek support, as is more common with women, who more eagerly speak out.

It’s the attitude of men portrayed as being brave and fearless that leads to men considering themselves in a negative light if they suffer from anxiety.

It’s important to remember, though, that everyone will feel anxious from time to time and not every anxious episode should be seen as a disorder.

It’s okay to worry about life’s many challenges. The difference is when that worry is difficult to control or shake long past a certain experience or event, and it starts interfering with your day-to-day activities, or changes the way you used to approach life, such as going out with your friends, being productive at work.

It severely affects relationships in that the coping mechanisms applied more often affect those close, through alcohol, abusive behaviour and frequently depression.

Society expects a lot from men. They’re expected to be seen as confident, in control, the decision-makers and the decisive voice of reason. They are often portrayed as a rock in times of trouble or uncertainty.

They are stereotyped as the provider, protector, being dependable, confident and fearless.

However, these very traits that society has labelled men with could lead to men feeling inadequate and emasculated. It’s not realistic to expect men to be the stronger sex.

If anxiety is left untreated, irritability and being edgy, touchy , cranky or impatient becomes the norm in reacting to everyday small and large frustrations. In addition, anxiety drives avoidance, which in turn constricts lives.

A range of factors can contribute to, or even trigger the development of an anxiety disorder. These could be a genetic predisposition, as well as physical factors such as an imbalance of hormones and chemical messengers in the brain.

But the trigger can also be environmental factors such as excessive stress in a relationship, job, school or financial predicaments, and traumatic life events. Medical factors could lead to an anxiety disorder such as side effects of medication, symptoms or stress relating to an illness.

For help contact the SA Depression and Anxiety Group: 0800456789.