Anxiety in Men: How Symptoms Differ, Overcoming Stigma, and Male-Focused Treatment

Anxiety is a mental health concern that people experience at varying levels of severity. Some people will inevitably experience mild, situational anxiousness that goes away after some time, while others struggle with clinical anxiety disorders that are debilitating. Anxiety in men is prevalent — according to a 2022 report by the CDC, nearly 15% of men experienced some symptom of anxiety in the last two weeks.¹ 

This is particularly concerning because men are significantly less likely to seek help for mental health struggles, which means the male population is often underdiagnosed and undersupported. Many men struggle to even recognize that they’re experiencing anxiety, let alone seek treatment.² This likely stems from stigma surrounding male mental health and societal expectations that men should be stoic, unemotional, and never show weakness. 

However, identifying warning signs early demonstrates strength and paves the way for effective treatment. Here’s a breakdown of how anxiety manifests uniquely in men, and how to overcome barriers to find male-focused treatment. 

The Masked Presentation: How Anxiety Manifests Differently in Men

Anxiety manifests differently in men compared to women, so recognizing these unique symptoms is critical for seeking effective treatment. 

Emotional vs. physical symptoms of anxiety

Men’s anxiety often presents through physical manifestations rather than emotional expressions like openly worrying, crying, or visible nervousness. Since these physical signs are often ongoing, men tend to seek medical advice rather than mental health support, resulting in medical investigations that can sometimes miss the underlying anxiety. It can also contribute to men being unable to recognize and therefore report emotional symptoms, like worry and fear. If men do show emotional signs of anxiety, they often manifest as irritability, anger, and aggression.

Behavioral signs of anxiety often misinterpreted

When men experience anxiety, it often presents through behaviors that can be misinterpreted. Common behaviors or emotional expressions that are not always recognized as anxiety include: 

• Irritability.
• Anger.
• Substance use as self-medication.
• Perfectionism.
• Workaholism.
• Limited emotional expression. 
• Social withdrawal.
• Controlling behaviors.
• Risk-taking or self-destructive behaviors.

When these behaviors show up, they tend to be understood either as personality traits, stress reactions, or dismissed as typical “manly” behaviors. These misinterpretations perpetuate a dangerous cycle where men avoid seeking treatment and their emotional struggles are not taken seriously. 

Related: Understanding OCD vs. Anxiety

Common Signs of Anxiety in Men

Understanding common signs of anxiety — from physical symptoms to behavioral warning signs — can help you pinpoint what you may be experiencing. 

Physical warning signs of anxiety in men

Males tend to experience physical symptoms of anxiety, which include: 

• Excessive sweating in non-exertion situations.
• Chest tightness.
• Racing heart. 
• Muscle tension, especially in jaw, shoulders, and neck.
• Sleep disturbances.
• Digestive issues.
• Sexual dysfunction or decreased libido.
• Headaches.
• Chronic pain without clear medical cause.

These symptoms often lead men to seek medical care, assuming their struggles are purely physical rather than anxiety-related. Unfortunately, this leads to missed diagnoses, causing delays in finding relief. 

Cognitive and emotional indicators of anxiety in men

Anxiety can impact both thought patterns and emotional states. Some common cognitive and emotional indicators include: 

• Catastrophic thinking, especially regarding career failure, financial insecurity, or being able to provide.
• Obsessive worry about being perceived as weak or incompetent.
• Persistent worry about work performance or failure. 
• Difficulty concentrating or relaxing, despite overworking.
• Difficulty accurately identifying emotional states. 
• Brain fog during stressful situations.
• Feeling overwhelmed by routine responsibilities.
• Racing thoughts about losing respect or status, especially at night.
• Intense fear of judgment, criticism, or being perceived as “less than a man.”

Men experiencing these symptoms often internalize them or express them indirectly due to fear of judgment. This is particularly concerning because it perpetuates a vicious cycle: negative thinking influences emotions, which impacts behaviors, which can trigger more anxious thoughts.

Behavioral red flags for anxiety in men

When anxiety goes undiagnosed, it’s easier to fall into self-destructive behaviors in an effort to cope with psychological distress. These behavioral red flags may indicate the need to seek mental health support and include:

• Avoiding social situations or making excuses to leave early. 
• Procrastination followed by intense work marathons.
• Increased self-medication through alcohol consumption or substance use.
• Checking and rechecking work repeatedly, perpetuating perfectionist tendencies.
• Noticeable increase in irritability, aggression, or conflict with others.
• Difficulty delegating tasks to others while insisting on “handling things alone.” 
• Changes in routine or avoidance of anxiety-triggering situations.

When these behaviors emerge, they’re often overlooked and written off as character flaws rather than recognized as signs of underlying anxiety. Without proper care, these unhealthy coping strategies can escalate and become more destructive.

Related: Anxiety vs. ADHD

The Overlap With Depression and Other Mental Health Conditions

Anxiety in men commonly co-occurs with other mental health conditions.³ Several disorders have high comorbidity rates with anxiety, including: 

• Depression (diagnosed as anxiety-depressive disorder or major depressive disorder (MDD) with anxious features). 
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and other substance use disorders (SUDs).
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Borderline personality disorder (BPD).

Depression symptoms are often more recognizable than anxiety symptoms, which can lead to missed anxiety diagnoses. Even if you have existing mental health disorders, it’s important to communicate your struggles with anxiety to a provider, as they can treat both conditions for the most effective outcomes.

Related: Understanding and Supporting Depression in Men

The Barriers to Recognition and Treatment for Men With Anxiety

Men have a harder time seeking help due to various barriers and stigma surrounding diagnosis and treatment. Recognizing these barriers is a productive step to relieve anxiety.

Cultural and social expectations

Society has created and perpetuated ideas surrounding men through gender socialization that have shaped an unhealthy and toxic narrative around male vulnerability. Common phrases like “tough it out,” “be a man about it,” or “boys don’t cry” perpetuate masculine norms and cause men to bottle up their feelings, which can make anxiety worse and lead to burnout, distress, or substance use. 

This concern is particularly alarming given that anxiety in men is common — one in five men will experience an anxiety disorder sometime throughout the course of their life.⁴ The dangerous stigma around male vulnerability can discourage men from reaching out for help, leading to higher rates of alcohol-related deaths and suicide compared to women.⁵ Men who are not taught healthy coping mechanisms may turn to self-destructive alternatives. 

Diagnostic challenges

The diagnostic criteria that many mental health care providers use and early research regarding anxiety disorders were largely based around female participants and female expressions of anxiety, such as visible worry or crying. This has caused blind spots in how providers diagnose men with anxiety, often attributing men’s physical complaints to medical conditions rather than mental disorders. Additionally, anxiety screening tools generally rely on self-reported emotional symptoms, which men often have difficulty accurately identifying and communicating. 

Related: Do You Have High-Functioning Anxiety?

Breaking Through: Overcoming Stigma Around Male Anxiety

The conversation surrounding men and mental health has increased exponentially, but there are a lot of myths that continue to prevent men from getting help. These myths and misconceptions can become internalized beliefs that create harmful stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination, hindering optimal outcomes for care.

Mental health is far more important than many realize, since it impacts not only your daily routine but your overall capacity for joy. Without adequate joy, life can become grim very quickly, so ensuring that men get the mental health support they need can change the narrative. The more men we see taking control of their mental health and communicating their struggles, the more we normalize male mental health treatment. 

When you seek help for your mental health, it’s a sign of strength, courage, and bravery. Additionally, facing your inner struggles and holding yourself accountable for your psychological well-being is a profound act of self-love. This is the narrative that needs to be pushed about mental health — because it’s the truth. 

Related: Stress Management Tips for Navigating Economic Anxiety

Treatment for Anxiety in Men

Many men may refuse to seek help, assuming that solutions inadequately address their needs. Understanding that anxiety treatment is not a one-size-fits-all approach and can be tailored to your specific needs can bring reassurance when seeking support. 

Therapy modalities and adaptations that resonate with men

Varying modalities can be modified during anxiety therapy to address male-specific struggles. Some evidence-based approaches that tend to appeal to men include: 

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT for anxiety can help transform anxious thought patterns into productive ones by helping men understand the relationship between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, while interrupting the cycle. 
• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT): Men tend to resonate with practical and problem-solving strategies, which are foundational principles of ACT. Men will be taught to accept anxious thoughts rather than fighting them while taking action toward fulfilling personal values. 
• Physical activity integrated with therapy: Physical activity supports emotional regulation, stress relief, and nervous system regulation, which resonates with men who value fitness and competitiveness. Integrating therapy with lifestyle changes such as exercise can address anxiety from a biological and psychological angle. 
• Technology-based interventions: Using technology during treatment such as text reminders, virtual reality to help with phobias or social skills, and online therapy sessions can appeal to tech-savvy men who prefer digital approaches. 
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): Men may resist the traditional format of DBT, which is built on emotional awareness and interpersonal sensitivity. However, the skills taught in DBT can be adapted to fit narratives internalized by men to increase engagement in treatment.
• Exposure therapy: This can help men with anxiety by gradually confronting feared situations in a controlled environment, which reduces avoidance behaviors and builds confidence in managing anxiety-provoking scenarios.

All of these different types of therapy can facilitate progress, help achieve personal goals, and effectively manage anxiety symptoms. 

Alternative and complementary approaches to therapy

Therapeutic techniques are not the only care approach that can be utilized for anxiety treatment — in fact, a multimodal approach can often deliver the best results. 

Other modalities that can be used alongside therapy include: 

• Medication for anxiety prescribed under the approval of a psychiatrist can be used in tandem with therapeutic techniques to provide relief from symptoms, which may make it easier for men to get the most out of therapy.
• Mindfulness and meditation practices are a great tool to regulate the nervous system and reconnect the mind with the body, helping men to be more aware of their physical presentations of anxious feelings.
• Stress management techniques like breathing exercises, physical activity outlets for releasing tension, and even journaling can help men alleviate ongoing stress while providing practical tools to fit their daily routines. 
• Peer support groups are particularly beneficial for men with anxiety, as they offer a space for connecting with others and reducing isolation. Listening to other men’s struggles with similar problems can be a healing experience and normalize male mental health care. 
• Nutritional approaches like ensuring adequate vitamin intake and maintaining a proper diet that’s low in processed foods can contribute to alleviating anxiety. When your body is well-rested and properly nourished, it’s easier to manage your other systems. 
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive, FDA-approved brain stimulation therapy that offers an alternative approach to treating anxiety when first-line interventions such as medication aren’t providing adequate relief. TMS therapy and medication can be used together for enhanced benefits. TMS for anxiety may particularly appeal to men because it’s a medical procedure that doesn’t require the emotional disclosure that some men find challenging in traditional talk therapy.

Related: 11 Benefits of Seeing a Psychiatrist for Anxiety Disorders

How Neuro Wellness Spa Can Treat Anxiety in Men

If you’re dealing with anxiety and feel hesitant about seeking help due to societal stigma, contact Neuro Wellness Spa today. We understand the courage it takes to seek help, and our care team of knowledgeable and compassionate mental health professionals can guide you every step of the way. 

We offer CBT, DBT, and psychiatric services as primary treatment options for men with anxiety that’s temporary and persistent generalized anxiety disorders (GADs) alike. Additionally, TMS therapy and medication may be appropriate if symptoms of anxiety persist. Every treatment option we provide will be tailored toward your specific needs and mental health goals for optimal results.

Break the stigma and seek the help for your mental health problems you so rightly deserve — call Neuro Wellness Spa today.

References

1. Terlizzi, E. P., & Zablotsky, B. (2024). Symptoms of anxiety and depression among Adults: United States, 2019 and 2022. In National Health Statistics Reports (Journal-Article No. 213). https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr213.pdf

2. Fisher, K., Seidler, Z. E., King, K., Oliffe, J. L., Robertson, S., & Rice, S. M. (2022). Men’s anxiety, why it matters, and what is needed to limit its risk for male suicide. Discover Psychology, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-022-00035-5

3. Facts & Statistics | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. (n.d.). https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/facts-statistics

4. What does anxiety look like in men? (n.d.). https://www.eehealth.org/blog/2019/09/men-anxiety/

5. Chatmon, B. N. (2020). Males and mental health stigma. American Journal of Men S Health, 14(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988320949322