Men Experience Difficult Times Too

We all go through difficult times in life, the most important thing to realize is that difficult times will pass and we can get through it. Everyone goes through rough patches in life and we all experience strain and stress during tough times. However, sometimes problems don’t go away on their own and we might not be able to solve them by ourselves. This can have a serious impact on our relationships with friends and family, our work and our physical and mental health.

What are some common causes of difficult times for men?

There are many circumstances and issues that can cause stress. Everyone deals with situations differently and what affects one person may not affect another. Some of the common causes of tough times, particularly for men, include:

• Problems at work, job stress, difficulties with boss or co-workers or job insecurity
• Financial problems, difficulty paying bills or debt
• Unemployment, including redundancy
• Physical health problems, illness, chronic pain or injury
• Mental health problems, anxiety or depression
• Environmental events or natural disasters, flood, cyclone, drought or bush-fires
• Death of loved ones
• Relationship problems, including difficulties with your friends, parents, partner or spouse, children or colleagues
• Relationship breakdowns through divorce or separation
• Separation from children or family due to relationship breakdown, child custody or visitation issues or work commitments
• Excessive alcohol or drug use
• Harassment or bullying at school or work
• Dealing with sexuality issues, “coming out”, discrimination because of gender identity or sexual preference
• Housing difficulties or homelessness
• Abuse or trauma, witnessing violence or warfare, verbal, physical or sexual abuse
• Excessive gambling
• Criminal or legal issues

A significant change in circumstances, becoming a parent, moving house or city or town, retiring from work or migration to or from America. Often, a number of these events happen at the same time, which may make the situation overwhelming and more stressful.

What are some common signs of stress and strain?

Different people show strain and stress in different ways. Before you recognize your emotional feelings about a situation, you may notice the physical symptoms of stress. Sometimes, you might not even realize that you are stressed or becoming overwhelmed by your situation. Some common signs of stress or strain may include:

• Feeling aggressive or angry
• Always feeling tired, lacking motivation or energy
• Having difficulty concentrating at school or work
• Sleeping all the time or having difficulty sleeping
• Increased nervousness, restlessness, agitation or fidgeting
• Often depressed or feeling down
• Increased use of alcohol or drugs
• Physical symptoms, such as headaches, weight gain or loss, and muscle aches or tension
• Increased gambling
• Becoming distant, withdrawing from friends and family
• Feeling out of control or helpless
• Losing interest in activities that you usually enjoy
• Feeling hopeless, guilty, like you’re a failure or a burden to others
• Thoughts of harming others or yourself
• Feeling like nothing you can do to fix the situation

All of these are common reactions to difficult circumstances. But, over time, they can have a negative impact on your health and may lead to physical or mental health problems, anxiety, depression, heart disease or ulcers. Even though a situation may seem impossible to fix, there are a number of positive ways to cope with difficult circumstances that can help you get through it and find solutions.