The constant barrage of noise, events and interruptions build up throughout the day and cumulatively affect the brain, often resulting in pent-up stress and anxiety. The Franklin Institute, of Philadelphia, reports that men and women respond to stress differently. While women turn to caretaking activities and sharing their feelings with friends when they feel stressed, men tend to stick to more primitive responses.
Fight or Flight
Anxiety results from a buildup of chemicals in the brain that are part of the survival instinct inbred in humans. When faced with stressful situations, the adrenal gland releases cortisol to the brain, which sets in motion a variety of physical and emotional responses. Other hormones are released and the mind and body prepare for action. Men often react by fleeing or fighting when faced with an anxiety-producing situation. They deal with the attack verbally or physically so their bodies can return to a normal, calm state. When a quick response is inappropriate, the buildup of the hormones can cause chemical imbalances in the brain that will come out in another way. For men, the fight-or-flight response intensifies as stress builds.
Disease
Stress-related physical disorders can occur in men who do not release their anxiety in some way. With societal demands placed on men to control their anger and to restrain themselves from fighting, anxiety builds up and can result in hypertension, unrestrained aggressive behavior, and alcohol or drug abuse. According to the Franklin Institute, the brain neurons that protect the brain become weakened when anxiety levels continue untreated, leading to stroke and reduced learning abilities. The body reacts to continued anxiety by increasing blood pressure, respiration and heart rate, which are precursors to a stroke, arteriosclerosis and heart disease.
Depression
By not dealing with anxiety disorders such as sexual anxiety, phobias and fears, men often become depressed. The Mayo Clinic reports that men experience depression differently than women so for a number of reasons. Many men believe that it is not masculine to show emotions and flaws. They hide behind aggression and alcohol or drugs instead of talking about their fears. Symptoms of depression in men include participating in risky behavior like driving too fast or playing extreme sports. They may be violent and aggressive or display inappropriate rage. While men and women think about suicide equally, men are more likely to complete the act. They display fewer warning signs, don't talk about their thoughts and tend to use more lethal means of killing themselves. According to the Mayo Clinic, older white men are at the greatest risk of committing suicide.
