As a man do you feel a little down this week, or do you feel part of a month when you are not truly yourself and you lay wondering, what may be wrong with me!
To tell you the truth nothing is wrong with you, and what you feel, a significant number of men in the world experiences too. Is it a little hard to understand? Let us be frank and declare that men feel post-menstrual syndrome (PMS) too or mood swings, feeling upset, anxious or irritable, tiredness or trouble sleeping, headaches and few other symptoms. We call it ‘Man Period’, or you can call it ‘Irritable Male Syndrome’ (IMS) if you like. It can be as difficult as a woman may experience during her PMS; however, men don’t need to menstruate or bleed.
Why does it happen?
Hormonal changes don’t restrict to a single-gender group, although most of us lay ignorant to it as men can also be affected by this issue. These afflictions are related to the testosterone level of Men; upon which rise and fall man feels different sorts of emotion. It has a link with the season and your testosterone might fall in fall and winter, and you may enjoy the emotional dissonance moment you are not too unfamiliar with. While some men will experience quick changes in hormone levels, others will suffer the same symptoms due to lower levels of testosterone in their bodies.
Similar to women, men have hormonal cycles, although it might not happen monthly. These cycles bring many similar symptoms as women feel, e.g., mood swings, abdominal pain, tiredness and others. These levels tend to fall as people become older, and they can have a significant impact on behaviour, mood, and sex drive. Besides these men testosterone can also be dropped due to sudden changes in diet, stress from work or household. One interesting thing, men can sympathise with their counterpart women through sharing their pain during their PMS, with ‘Sympathy PMS’. However, testosterone cannot be blamed alone for the IMS; men's fitness and most importantly, their emotional state also play a role.
Identifying if you have IMS
Every man, to some degree or another, has IMS at some point in his life. Identifying the symptoms is the first step in treating IMS. If you have Irritable Male Syndrome, it is easy for those close to you to see it, compared to you. If the signs of IMS are not identified with attention, they may be overlooked in denial. It's a simple approach to see if you're affected and if you've had any recent problems with your mental health. Adverse emotion and mental health issues are a big part of IMS, but they're typically overlooked in men since most people associate them with acted-out behaviour. Irritability, hypersensitivity, anxiety, frustrations, aggressive behaviour, low self-confidence, and sadness are all signs of Irritable Male Syndrome. You may experience a few other secondary symptoms as a result of these symptoms, including poor sleep patterns, difficulties concentrating, decreased energy, loss of stamina, low sex drives, erectile dysfunction, withdrawal, and others. Besides identifying symptoms, you can take a testosterone test to see if you have a hormonal imbalance, which is a condition of IMS.
Let’s care for our health
The irreconcilable this problem may be, but it may not be nearly impossible to control. At first, we have to realise and accept the fact that IMS is a real thing, not just some made-up story. By accepting its existence first, we will be able to analyse the actions which may help ease this problem. Following that you can try to gain more knowledge regarding this issue, keeping in mind that the more you know about this issue the more you can protect yourself and those you love. A slight change in the lifestyle can help ease the effect of symptoms. A balanced diet, exercise, and avoiding alcohol and cigarettes have shown promises to help with the situation. And if the symptoms seem to you severe or uncontrollable it is always best to seek professional medical expertise. Possible treatment may try to treat your hormone and rebalance it through medication. It's important to remember that IMS is no one's fault. IMS is a medical condition.
Few tips for taking care of yourself and keeping your IMS in check:
• Exercise: Regularly engage in physical activity. Physical activity aids in the reduction of insulin levels in the body as well as hormone control. You may create resistive power for IMS by working out for 30–40 minutes five days a week.
• Encourage healthy eating: A well-balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle can help you maintain hormonal balance. Fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seafood, and meat, as well as avoiding sugary and high-fat diets, can help you maintain a healthy body and mind.
• Limit alcohol and cigarette consumption: Keeping alcohol consumption and smoking to a bare minimum will help to keep testosterone levels from plummeting any further.
• Address the stress: If you believe you have to deal with stress regularly, you should make it a top priority to address. Try to set out some time every day for things that will help you relax. Relax by engaging in stress-relieving activities such as meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, and other physical activities that you love.
• Communicate: Talk to a close friend or family member about what's troubling you, and don't be afraid to seek assistance.
If we see a person, we are familiar with is going through the symptoms of IMS, as human beings it is our foremost duty to be there for them, communicate with them, help them to practice a healthy lifestyle and if needed helping them to seek professional support. It becomes intolerable for the person suffering from IMS when no one understands the problem they suffer, and let alone blaming them to be bothered by a negligible issue. Again, as a human being living in the same society you have every right to be supported to deal with IMS, don’t hesitate to speak out loud about your problem, it is not your fault you are affected by and you don’t have to suffer alone for it.
At the end of the path when everything thing looks bleak, and you find everything intolerable, giving a little bit of attention to yourself, sharing your problems with your close one and seeking professional support, will be able to help you to get through this bleak situation. Irritable Male Syndrome may appear to be a never-ending roller-coaster ride, but with the right support and practice, you can emerge as new with a restored sense of self, a balanced mental state, and improved physical health.