Did you know that about 11% of adult men in the global population are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder? This is a rather small and alarming number demonstrating how misunderstood and overlooked men’s anxiety is. This blog will touch on some important information to help you or a loved one understand what anxiety in men may look like. 

Distinguishing between Anxiety and Depression

Why is there a need to distinguish between anxiety and depression? The answer is that they are two different disorders that often overlap in individuals. But what does that mean exactly? Why does it matter?

Before we explore anxiety in men, let us first define the disorder along with depression:

A common question asked is if you can acquire both disorders at the same time. The answer is yes. According to Dr. Freeman from Banner Health, anxiety symptoms are often followed by depression and vice versa. Signs, including constant worrying, can co-occur with a deep sense of sadness, and can interfere with sleep and one’s ability to focus and make decisions. Both anxiety and depression can affect one’s sleep, energy level, concentration, and be associated with irritability and restlessness.

The “Male-Type” Anxiety Phenotype

Standard diagnostic criteria for anxiety often focus on restlessness, irritability, and muscle tension. However, research by Fisher and others suggests a distinct “male-type anxiety phenotype” that manifests through different, often more physical symptoms. Men are more likely to experience:

  • Enduring sensations of feeling “out-of-control.”
  • Physical Manifestations like chronic body pains, headaches, and panic attacks.
  • Chronic recurrence of these symptoms.
Two happy men laughing on a walk outdoors.

These experiences do not always align with common understandings of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Because these symptoms do not always align with the “worried” or “restless” descriptions found in most clinical manuals, Fisher and others suggest that symptoms are frequently missed by both health professionals and men themselves.

Men Facing Anxiety through Pressures to be “Tough”

Fisher and other experts in men’s mental health, with exposure on platforms like The Guardian and ABC, highlight that social expectations and masculine norms, such as self-reliance and emotional restrictiveness, strongly impact how men process anxiety. From a young age, many men are conditioned to embody fearlessness through a “face your fears” mentality. As a result, Fisher and others contend that a socialized rhetoric that frames fear as a deviation from masculine expectations is produced. It is through this common stigmatization of fear that many men come to view core features of anxiety as unwanted or even unacceptable experiences that threaten perceived masculinity and status.

This generates a difficult internal conflict. The article goes on to identify the approaches men turn to in order to maintain an image of decisiveness and rationality. Furthermore, the extent to which men avoid feelings of shame, powerlessness, or a loss of masculine status. Common actions include:

  • Concealment: This includes men hiding their struggle to maintain an image of being “cool, calm, and detached.”
  • Independent Problem-Solving: The attempt to fix the issue independently and avoid professional help.
  • Self-medication: The use of alcohol or drugs to suppress feelings of worry or overwhelm.

Causes of Anxiety in Men

Like any mental health condition, there are some varying factors that play a role in how, when and why anxiety appears. There are several causes as to why anxiety appears in men when considering social, internal and environmental aspects. Below are some Windward Mental Health examples of the common causes:

  • Genetic: If you have a close relative that experiences an anxiety disorder, the chances of you experiencing similar symptoms are quite high. Genetics play a significant role in determining the likelihood of the same or similar mental health conditions developing in family members. 
  • Chronic Health Conditions: Men that have or develop ongoing physical pain and/or health issues have an increased chance of developing anxiety disorders. 
  • Lifestyle: An unhealthy lifestyle can spark or aggravate symptoms of anxiety in men. Whether it is with the individual’s diet or lack of sleep, these kinds of environmental factors in combination with life stressors can create a web of issues that makes managing anxiety more challenging. 

Moving from “Toughing it Out” to Emotional Fitness

It is a common misconception that “toughing it out” is the most effective way to push through challenges. However, seeking support early is a proactive step in protecting one’s long-term health and quality of life. Fisher and others address why early and proactive treatment for anxiety is crucial for a person’s future:

  • To begin, early treatment can support the prevention of future health complications.  Leaving anxiety untreated can lead to more complex psychiatric disorders, including comorbid depression and bipolar disorder.
  • Furthermore, anxiety can significantly impact an individual’s physical well-being, with research linking chronic and untreated anxiety to premature mortality and severe morbidity. This highlights the importance of early treatment in protecting physical health. 
  • Early intervention can help support daily functioning, allowing individuals to effectively participate in their social, emotional, and physical life to the fullest. 
  • Untreated anxiety can seep its way into a person’s personal life and relationships, resulting in negative consequences, including relationship breakdowns, social isolation, and instances of aggression. However, early intervention can help maintain healthy relationships.

Visualizing Help Against Anxiety in Men

If you or a loved one is considering seeking help, the best first step is to visit your doctor. Doctors have the necessary resources and information to help get you started. Help can look different from person to person, especially for men looking to treat anxiety. The following are some examples, supported by the University of California’s Health department, of what help can look like: 

  • Therapy: A therapist is a good place to start for men facing anxiety disorders to voice their concerns and connect with someone who specializes in the right field. There are multiple types of therapy that can be beneficial for treating anxiety, like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), just to name two common methods.
  • Medication: Going to your family doctor or a psychiatrist can be helpful to determine whether there is a medication that may be appropriate to manage your anxiety symptoms. 
  • Mindfulness and Meditation: Prior to (or in addition to) attending therapy sessions, many people find comfort in practicing meditation and mindfulness daily. This is also an option that many therapists suggest to their patients. Therapists may assist in curating a designated meditation or mindfulness routine to help patients cope with anxiety. 
  • Lifestyle Changes: Depending on who you talk to, changing your lifestyle can be a simple switch or a difficult one. It is important to ensure that you remain consistent with a healthy diet and become aware of your physical activities to keep your body and mind moving. Incorporating outdoor activities and socializing more frequently with friends and families can benefit one’s general health greatly. 

Beyond a doctor visit, seek support from therapists, including Michelle Helder and Amy Battistone, whose areas of support include both generalized anxiety and stress management.

Young caucasian man smiling happy standing at the city.

A Comparison Between Stress and Anxiety 

How do you know when you are feeling anxious versus feeling stressed? Both are emotional responses, however, stress is usually caused by an external trigger. For example, you may be experiencing a divorce during a busy time at work. This describes a stress-inducing event that entails a short-term response directly linked to a specific situation. Anxiety is a bit more persistent and does not require a particular trigger. Stress is not gender specific, so the symptoms can be found in both women and men. Those experiencing stress may be tackling the following:

  • Anger 
  • Fatigue 
  • Irritability 
  • Muscle pains, and so on.

We can see that there are some similarities in the symptoms, but how do we really know the difference? The American Psychological Association notes that stress does not last as long as anxiety. Anxiety is known to have a much longer-lasting effect. Stress, on the other hand, typically transpires due to external situations in life that dictate how long your resulting stress will continue for. 

Discover more about Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), here.

Support and Prevention of Anxiety in Men

Fisher, other researchers and faculty from the University of Melbourne and from the University of British Columbia also note that anxiety disorders are the most prevalent type of mental health disorder experienced by men. However, they are often disproportionately overlooked in the field of men’s mental health. This is often because men’s symptoms frequently differ from traditional diagnostic categories. 

For many men, anxiety is the first mental health challenge they encounter, sometimes occurring as early as childhood or adolescence. Understanding these unique symptoms is the first step toward getting the right support. 

Unsure of what support may look like for you? Contact us to learn more.

References

American Psychological Association. (2022, February 14). What’s the difference between stress and anxiety? American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/anxiety-difference

Fisher, K., Seidler, Z. E., King, K., Oliffe, J. L., Robertson, S., & Rice, S. M. (2022, March 4). Men’s anxiety, why it matters, and what is needed to limit its risk for male suicide. Discover Psychology, 2(18) https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-022-00035-5

Mortazavi, A., Youn, S. J., Newman, M. G., Castonguay, L. G., & Molnar, C. (2014, January 1). Generalized anxiety disorder. In L. Grossman & S. Walfish (Eds.), Translating psychological research into practice, 183-185. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260163800_Generalized_Anxiety_Disorder

Olsson, R. (2026, January 30). Anxiety vs. depression: How to spot the signs and get help. Banner Health. https://www.bannerhealth.com/healthcareblog/better-me/do-i-have-anxiety-depression-or-both-here-is-how-to-tell 

Pino, M., & Land, V. (2021, December 21). How companions speak on patients’ behalf without undermining their autonomy: Findings from a conversation analytic study of palliative care consultations. Sociology of Health & Illness, 44(2), 395-415. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.13427

UC Davis Health. (2025, July 30). Men’s Mental Health: What to know about depression and anxiety and how to get help. Cultivating Health. https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/cultivating-health/mens-mental-health-what-to-know-about-depression-and-anxiety-and-how-to-get-help/2025/07

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2024, December). Anxiety disorders. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders#hts-trials

Windward Mental Health. (2025, September 29). Understanding anxiety in men: Symptoms, causes, & treatment. https://windwardmentalhealth.com/understanding-anxiety-in-men-symptoms-causes-treatment/

World Health Organization. (2025, August 29). Depressive disorder (depression). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression

Authors: Kianna Simpson and Tamara Popovic, Undergraduate Student Volunteers

Edited by: Caden Grandy, Undergraduate Student Volunteer