How to Relieve Stress in Men
Millions of men around the world search for stress relief. They try to understand how to reduce stress, research stress relief techniques, and even stress medication. First of all, it’s important to understand the term and that not all forms of stress are bad.
However, when you’re searching for what causes stress and even coping mechanisms for stress, it’s likely due to an abundance of negative stress.
What is Stress and What Causes It?
Stress is the body’s natural response to some perceived stimuli. Sometimes, stress is the result of a positive change or stimuli, like moving into your dream house or winning a race or sporting event. However, most people focus almost exclusively on the bad stress in life, the kind that causes sleepless nights, increased blood pressure, anxiety, and more.
There could be hundreds or even thousands of potential causes of stress a man can face. If we boil it all down to the most basic component, though, it’s the body’s response to a threat -real or perceived. In other words, the ‘fight or flight’ mechanism that prepares the body to stay and fight off a threat or run for safety is the root cause of stress.
As for the causes of stress, there are plenty, but here are the top three:
- Finances
- Work
- Personal Relationships
Just don’t overlook the stress of parenting, daily life, health, and more.
Symptoms of Stress in Men
Stress can manifest itself in many different way, the most common symptoms of stress in men are:
- Headaches
- Muscle tension
- Muscle pain
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Erectile dysfunction
- Difficulty sleeping
- Rapid heart rate
- Heartburn
- Upset stomach / ulcers
- Difficulty focusing / concentrating
The more you understand stress symptoms in men, the more likely you are to find ways to reduce those levels. There are other signs of stress in men, too, including getting easily agitated, losing control, and getting more easily frustrated with tasks at hand.
Ways to Reduce Stress
There are a number of options for relief from stress. There is natural stress relief, such as breathing exercises, physical activities, etc. There are stress relief supplements, such as vitamins. What are the best stress relief supplements? That depends on where the deficiencies are for you. In order to determine that, consult a doctor.
There is also medication for stress if your doctor feels that is the best course of action at this stage in your life. Whether you choose a stress relief exercise or stress relief vitamins, understand that the most critical component of how stress affects the body is the cause.
If you don’t know what’s causing stress, you will be hard-pressed to make an impact on reducing it.
Exercises for Stress Relief
Male stress relief always begins with an understanding of your body, physiology, and history. When you consult a doctor about stress relief, he or she will go over these details.
Let’s discuss a couple of exercises for stress relief.
Breathing Exercises
There are different breathing exercises for stress, but the best for relieving stress is diaphragmatic breathing. When you’re stressed, you’ll tend to breathe more heavily through the upper chest muscles, which adds strain and tension to your neck and shoulders.
With diaphragmatic breathing, you focus on the core breathing muscle, the diaphragm.
- Close your eyes.
- Place a hand on your abdomen and one on your chest.
- Breathe through your nose.
- As you do, focus on your abdomen rising, and not your chest.
- Exhale slowly through your nose, concentrating on ‘pushing’ the air out using your abdomen muscles.
- Do this three or four times with deep, slow breaths.
Yoga
Some men like yoga for stress relief. There are many yoga stretches, poses, and exercises that can help reduce stress. The key factors to keep in mind when using yoga for stress relief is to:
- Relax the muscles in your body.
- Focus on your breathing.
- Stretch to loosen muscles.
Best Stress Relief Supplements
There are plenty of supplements for stress you could try. Melatonin, magnesium, Valerian root, B-complex vitamins for stress, and more. Let’s look at two quickly.
Melatonin
Melatonin for stress can be effective for some. It is a hormone. It’s effects are the opposite of what stress hormones produce, so it helps the body relax. Taking melatonin supplements can improve sleep, morning alertness, and even quality of life. Make sure to consult a doctor before taking any supplement for stress, though.
Magnesium
Magnesium is found in green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains. Magnesium for stress relief can work for some men and in fact is commonly referred to as a ‘relaxation mineral’, it focuses on the nervous system and creating a normal heart rhythm. During stressful situations, magnesium gets excreted out of the body more quickly, and it’s important to supplement it with proper diet and perhaps supplements.
Food for Stress Relief
As mentioned, when you watch your diet you can increase magnesium naturally. These stress relievers food items may not be the whole solution you need, though, so consult a doctor to help you find the right combination.
Stress Medication
Your doctor may prescribe some medications to help with stress relief. You may know a family member or friend who has used some in the past and has something left over to try, but the wrong combination of medications and supplements can be dangerous. Always consult a doctor and only take medications he or she prescribes for you.
Other Stress Relief Techniques
There may be some over the counter medicine for anxiety and stress that work. It’s also a good idea to understand how caffeine and stress intertwine; the more caffeine you consume, the more likely your stress levels will increase.
There are also stress relief candles you may consider, essential oils, and some believe that chewing gum can help relieve stress.
Candles
Lavender, rosemary, and other aromatherapy scents have been shown in some research studies to help lower stress levels.
Relaxing Music
Does relaxing music for stress relief work? It certainly can. Just as upbeat and hard tempo music can ratchet up your energy level, calm, soothing instrumental music can have a calming effect on the body.
Chewing Gum
Does chewing gum relieve stress? According to some studies, yes, it can. It has also been linked to weight loss and improved memory. There are many reasons why this could be, and if you enjoy chewing gum, this repetitive behavior may help you feel less stress.
Essential Oils
Essential oils for stress work in similar ways to aromatherapy, with certain scents triggering hormone production that can lower stress levels or at least counteract the chemicals caused by stress in the body.
How Can Craft Medical Help Men Relieve Stress?
Whether you choose prayer for stress, find CBD for stress effective, or are still searching for the right solution, Craft Medical can help. Let us match you with the most experienced doctor in your area who can help you confront the stress in your life and find relief, finally.
