Stress in men - symptoms and coping

What about stress is something everyone knows. And certainly each of us will be able to describe the characteristics of his stress. But the situations that are capable of plunging us into such conditions are extremely individual: one can disturb the change of place of residence, others - the changing cultural conditions of life( emigration), while others in general seem impenetrable. However, stress is an integral part of modernity, especially urban life. So what is stress?

Such a definition seems somewhat surprising, because we are used to talking about stress as something detrimental, but there is an explanation for this too. Stress can be useful or destructive:

1. Eustress is a condition that helps to mobilize our resources for existence in uncertain, new or risky conditions. This form of stress helps to adapt to the situation and has a positive, adaptive character.
2. Distress - actually the stress that people usually describe. This is a disadaptive type of stress that disturbs our habitual life, associated with the depletion of our psycho-emotional and physical resources.

But when can I talk about useful or dangerous stress? Let's figure it out.

Symptoms of stress

Let's start with the fact thatwe are easier to understand - with signs of destructive stress. Both descriptions in the classifications of the disease, and clinical practice show that it is possible conditionally to divide the symptoms of distress into two categories: mental and physiological. Let's start with psychological ones.

Psychological symptoms of

• depression( or);
• alertness( or);
• anxiety and anxiety( or);
• appearance of depressive symptoms;
• weakening the functions of memory, attention, thinking, perception. People in a state of negative stress become less aware of everyday things with difficulty, are more difficult to concentrate, the thought processes slow down slightly and become "viscous"; in the perception, there may be an increase in sensitivity thresholds( visual / hearing loss / spatial coordination);
• sleep disorders;
• general malaise;
• partial loss of control over emotions, too strong affective reactions or emotional dullness.

Somewhat this picture resembles subdepressive states( by simple terms - spleen), but another important thing is fundamentally important - all these reactions are reversible! With the correct approach to the correction of stressful conditions, the psychological aspects of life return to the usual level.

Physiological symptoms of

Now it's time to talk about the physiological symptoms of stress. Admittedly, negative stress is one of the most "physiological" states. So, the following signs can be revealed:

• general malaise, weakness and retardation;
• occurrence of frequent colds and viral / infectious diseases;
• non-localized pain;
• migraines, pain in the nape;
• gastrointestinal disorders;
• pulse and pressure surges;
• changes the rhythm of breathing, chest pain.

And this is not all manifestations of stressful reactions. Asthenia - exhaustion caused by chronic stress, in principle undermines human health, weakening the immune system.

But eustress, or stress mobilizing is a more pleasant thing, which is rarely called a stress in the masses. As a rule, this is some tension, the expectation of some event, subjectively pleasant. This state of optimal tension helps us to do something better, find the strength to sacrifice something for the ultimate goal. Adaptive stress is a condition for the normal existence of a person in an indefinite world.

Now let's talk about the sexual function in case of chronic distress.

Stress and potency

Obviously, negative stresses lead to a sharp drop in the tone of the body. And it is quite natural that sexual activity also decreases. This is due to two facts:

1. Lack of desire( psychological component).
2. Weakened potency due to the general exhaustion of the muscular system.

Weakened potency in stress - a normal behavioral reaction of the body.

As a rule, stress completely "shifts" attention to itself and the weakening of potency in these states is rarely perceived as a real problem or as a fear of losing a function. But overly impressionable men, or men with high sexual activity can perceive such an event as a serious blow with far-reaching consequences. In the worst case, functional sexual disorders such as STOSN can develop.

Read on: The impact of stress on testosterone levels in men

Removing and coping with stress

It is extremely conditional that you can divide methods of overcoming stress into "chemical" and psychological ones. We will begin with the psychological aspects of overcoming.

Psychological methods

The first thing to think about in a situation that we evaluate as a long-term stress, , what exactly drives us into this state? Are we able to somehow influence, change or overcome the current difficulties? If there is an opportunity to get rid of a stressful situation - this is best. Although many people decide to give up a good job for their psychological well-being? Here the person is already deciding directly. If the situation can not be changed, it remains to change your attitude towards it. And this will help a good counselor or therapist.

Within the framework of psychotherapeutic correction, individual work with the client can be carried out, but the author's experience suggests that, in the not yet pathological condition, it is best to work in psychotherapeutic groups. Within the framework of group work, people learn to reconsider their problems and literally energize each other, which helps to look at the problem of their state in a new way. Such experience rarely increases the so-called stress resistance, which in the future helps to cope with the incidents of life more successfully.

One of the working methods is the auto-training for relaxation , related to teaching a better understanding of your body. After all, stress is perfectly revealed at the level of somatics, as we wrote above. Sessions of such trainings teach a person through changing the tone of his body to regulate his psycho-emotional state. A big plus of these methods is that they can( and should) be practiced at home, as texts for such exercises are freely available. It is important to do this regularly and purposefully.

Now let's move on to more formalized methods of overcoming stress-tablets.

Medicines for stress

Today there is a widespread opinion that tablet drugs will help to overcome stress. And historically it has happened that many people seek peace at the bottom of the glass. Unfortunately, not all "traditional" methods are effective, and even more so - safe.

The fact that we do not need to pour stress on alcohol is not worth mentioning - it's obvious. The weakened health, the increased risk of forming a pernicious habit and the absence of change outside will only aggravate the situation.

Tablets only relieve the symptoms of stress, but do not eliminate its causes.

Another myth is medicines. Certainly, dozens of selling sedatives will help to cope with a hundred symptoms, but. .. the cause will remain, and the invariable attitude to the problem will remain.

Here we are talking about free-access drugs( like "Afobazol") and folk remedies, like valerian. By the way, about valerian. Let's pose a strange question: is it necessary to completely remove stress from life? Here is an example from student life.

Some anxious students before exams so crushed by stressful conditions that at the last moment they decide to "calm down" with valerian. They will get it, but how does this affect their effectiveness? As a rule, such students are handed over much worse: and not because they do not know the subject, but because they simply do not care - just to pass.

Do you need this?- the decision for each personally.

Briefly about the severe stress reactions

Above we talked about the daily stress, which from time to time permeates our whole life. But stress also has clinical manifestations, which include acute stress reactions( OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder( PTSD), and a reaction to chronic stress.

The OCP develops under sad circumstances: catastrophes, terrorist attacks, and deaths of close relatives. May be accompanied by partial amnesia, fugues, manic agitation. As a rule, most people after OCD detect PTSD reactions.

PTSD - is delayed in time OCP, manifested in nightmares, intrusive thoughts about what happened, changes in behavior and the pursuit of avoidance-like circumstances.

Finally, chronic prolonged stress can lead to asthenia, the appearance of depressive symptoms, serious behavioral disorders and social maladaptation. Moreover, PTSD and chronic stress are very dangerous in terms of development of suicidal actions.

Completing our article, let's give men advice - do not be afraid to ask for help. Prevention of stress disorders is much better than their treatment, and a healthy psyche is more valuable than any financial resources.

Finally, curious readers are encouraged to refer to the popular science book, Mihail Chiksentmihayi "Potok" , which summarizes dozens of years of consultative practice and experiments, revealing a world of prosperity and happiness to readers.

Doctor-psychologist Borisov OB B.

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