Signs + Symptoms of Anxiety in Men
In this day and age, anxiety is a buzz word. Everyone seems to have it! As Licensed Clinical Counselors, we understand that anxiety presents differently based on age, gender, ethnicity and in different circumstances. While anxious thoughts can be a natural human response to stress, it's also important to know how to control our thoughts when they don't serve us.
When anxiety starts to interfere with daily life, therapy for anxiety can help. Certain forms of therapy such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Narrative Therapy are empirically proven to help clients change thought processing that no longer serves them. It's important to note that men are just as likely as women to experience anxiety, but often present with different symptoms.
Mental anxiety in men can manifest as constant worrying, feeling tense or restless, difficulty concentrating, racing thoughts, and obsessive thinking. Men with anxiety often have a tendency to catastrophize or overestimate negative outcomes. They may feel trapped in a cycle of negative thoughts, unable to break free. Men may also experience fear or panic, especially in situations where they feel out of control.
What does Somatic Anxiety feel like?
Somatic anxiety is when anxiety manifests as physical symptoms, such as sweating, palpitations, dizziness, trembling, and shortness of breath. Men may also experience muscle tension, headaches, and gastrointestinal problems, like nausea or diarrhea.Somatic anxiety can be distressing, as men may feel like something is physically wrong with them. From a behavioral standpoint, anxiety may produce behaviors including the avoidance of certain situations, difficulty sleeping, changes in appetite, and irritability.
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Men may become agitated, restless, or even angry. They may engage in risky or self-destructive behaviors, such as substance abuse or impulsive actions. Somatic anxiety is not the only form of anxiety, as some men report a more "heady" experience of racing thoughts while not experiencing any bodily or somatic symptoms of anxiety.
How Does Therapy Help Anxiety?
Men may hesitate to seek help for anxiety due to cultural stigma, but therapy can be a highly effective tool in managing symptoms. Therapy can provide men with a safe and supportive environment to explore their feelings and develop coping strategies. In addition, neurofeedback can be a useful complement to therapy. Learn more about neurofeedback here.
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New to Therapy? What to Expect
You can expect your therapist to take an appropriate amount of time building rapport while you get comfortable in the therapy room. We believe (and studies back us up) that if you don't like your therapist, therapy won't work. Your therapist will take this into consideration and build a relationship that feels healthy and safe prior to diving into deeper topics. When you have a positive relationship with your therapist, you're more likely to make progress and achieve your goals.

A key component of therapy for anxiety is the opportunity to explore where your anxiety comes from. Anxiety can be caused by many different factors, including genetics, traumatic experiences, and stress. Talking with a therapist can help you understand the underlying causes of your anxiety. For example, if your anxiety stems from traumatic experiences, you can work with your therapist to address the trauma and develop coping mechanisms.
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It is commonly understood in the field of counseling that insight creates behavioral change. Diving into new ways of seeing your situation and being open to behavioral change coming secondary are important factors to consider when starting therapy.
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Therapy for anxiety is a well-researched and evidence-based approach. Many studies, including this one by Focus, support cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as one effective modality for reducing anxiety symptoms. CBT is a type of therapy that focuses on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors. More studies are also finding that psychotherapy can be just as effective as medication in treating anxiety.
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Ready to get started?
Your first step to getting started with anxiety therapy is to schedule a free consultation to get matched with a therapist and see if the Men's Mental Wellness Center can help with your mental health goals. Click the link below to schedule a consultation.