Stress can have some specific effects on men that, although often very treatable, can make men feel lost, frustrated, or hopeless. Anger management is an important skill for men. Your naturally higher testosterone level can make you more prone to anger and aggression than women (there are certainly exceptions). Suppressing anger can be just as dangerous as venting anger inappropriately. Both cause a surge in stress hormones that can be harmful to the body.

Frequent anger can also be a sign of depression. Depression is a very real problem for many men, who tend to be less likely to admit they are depressed or to seek treatment. Here are the signs of depression:

• Feeling out of control

• Excessive irritability or anger

• Loss of interest in things that you previously enjoyed

• Sudden change in appetite (much higher or lower)

• Sudden change in sleep patterns (insomnia or sleeping too much)

• Feelings of hopelessness and despair

• Feelings of being stuck in a situation with no way out

• Anxiety, panic

• Frequent crying

• Thoughts of suicide

• Sabotaging success (such as quitting a good job or ending a good relationship)

• Substance abuse

• Increase in addictive behaviors

• Decreased sex drive

If you are depressed, please seek treatment. Depression is easily treatable, through therapy, medication, or a combination of both. Once you are over the first hurdle, you will feel better about yourself and will be more able to implement lifestyle changes, such as daily exercise, that will help to further alleviate depression.

Pressures Everywhere

Men often feel that asking for help is a sign of weakness, but in the case of depression (and in many other cases, for that matter), asking for help is a sign of strength. The situation is never hopeless! Ask for help.

Another area of concern for many men, and something that can be a direct result of even minor and/or temporary stress, is erectile dysfunction (ED), or impotence. Isolated incidents of being unable to maintain an erection sufficient to complete sexual intercourse are normal. Being overly tired, drinking too much, having a bad day, or putting too much pressure on yourself to perform can all result in an incident. But if the condition persists — if you cannot maintain an erection at least half the time you try — then you could have erectile dysfunction, and erectile dysfunction can be caused by stress.

Other Causes

There are other causes. In men over 50, the most common cause of ED is circulatory problems such as hardening of the arteries. It isn't just the arteries in your heart that can harden with age. The arteries to the penis can also get clogged, preventing sufficient blood flow for an erection.

ED can also be a symptom of a serious disease such as diabetes, or kidney or liver failure. It can be caused by nerve damage to the area from disease or surgery, including spinal surgery, or surgery on the colon or prostate. ED can be a side effect of many different medications, including antidepressants (very common), medication for high blood pressure, and sedatives. Excessive alcohol consumption can also cause ED, and so can smoking.

But, in many cases, ED has a psychological cause, and, in many cases, that cause is stress. Stress and ED do an insidious dance. You're stressed. You experience an incident of impotence. That makes you more stressed, increasing your chances of it happening again. It happens again. You get more stressed. How do you break the cycle?

In many cases, people who experience ED due to psychological causes will still have erections during sleep or in the morning. It's still a good idea to see a doctor to make sure there isn't an underlying physical condition. If it's clear that the cause is psychological, then you can focus on managing your stress.

See if you can pinpoint the cause. The stress that causes ED can come from any source. Overall life stress can certainly cause it, but other kinds of stress can, too, including the following:

• Stress in the relationship between sexual partners

• Stress caused by fear of poor performance

Should You Try Viagra?

While some men reportedly use Viagra on occasion for greater stamina, the medication is not for people with normal sexual functioning. Men with erectile dysfunction may benefit from Viagra because it facilitates erection and can increase the desire for sex. However, all medications have side effects and risks, and Viagra shouldn't be used when it isn't needed. Talk to your doctor to help you decide if you should use Viagra. You need to be aware of the effects, the risks, and how to use it properly.

• Stress caused by a fear of intimacy or a sudden change in the nature of the relationship, such as an engagement

• Fear of disease

• Stress due to unresolved sexual issues including sexual orientation

• Depression and its accompanying loss of interest in sex

If you know or suspect where your stress is rooted, you can begin to work on that area. Practice meditation and relaxation tips. Get enough exercise. If you are afraid of something, talk about it, think about it, write about it, or seek help so that you can work it out and get past it. If you are depressed, seek treatment. If you are having relationship problems, confront them and work them out. Sometimes, all it takes is some open communication.

Or, maybe your ED is a signal that you are having sex with the wrong person. Think about that. Whatever the cause, most psychological causes of ED can be resolved, in which case, your function will return without any sign of having left you. When it comes to ED, “don't worry, be happy” may be easier said than done, but it's still pretty good advice.