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The Irritable Male Syndrome: A
Multi-Dimensional Problem in Life
IMS is a multi-dimensional problem that affects and
is affected by hormonal, physical, psychological,
emotional, interpersonal, economic, social, sexual,
and spiritual changes. One of the reasons it is so
difficult to understand and deal with is its
complexity. In our 21st century world of high
technology and specialization we tend to see
problems in either or terms.
It’s either physical or psychological;
biological or social; personal or interpersonal.
The result is we go to one specialist to treat our
heart, a different one to take care of our psyches,
and still a third to deal with physical pain. No
one deals with the whole person, much less the
person in the context of his family, community, and
social environment. We are learning about the very
nature of life, how the genes lay the foundation
for who and what we are. But we seem to be losing
the larger picture of what it means to be a healthy
human being.
Who do we go to see about the increasing stress
in our lives? Where do we learn about andropause
(male menopause) and the changes in men as we age?
How do we find out about the hormonal tides that
affect males at all ages? What do we do when our
problems are larger than can be understood by
looking at our own lives? We are social beings and
can’t be understood apart from our mates, our
parents, our children, our friends, our
communities, the world we live in, and our view of
the spiritual world beyond.
In trying to describe something that is new, it
is difficult to come up with a short, accurate, and
useful definition. In some sense this whole book is
my attempt to define what I mean by Irritable Male
Syndrome. What follows is my current definition. I
expect it will change through time as we gather
more information and conduct further research:
Definition of the Irritable Male Syndrome (IMS):
A state of hypersensitivity, anxiety, frustration,
and anger that occurs in males and is associated
with biochemical changes, hormonal fluctuations,
stress, and loss of male identity.
Whereas feelings like anger, anxiety, and
frustration can occur quickly and end quickly,
irritability can develop into a mood state that can
last over a long period of time and can trigger
these feelings over and over again. It can have a
major impact on our whole lives. “When
we’re in a mood it biases and restricts how we
think,” says Paul Ekman, who is professor of
psychology and director of the Human Interaction
Laboratory at the University of California Medical
School in San Francisco. Dr. Ekman is one of the
world’s experts on emotional expression.
In describing these kinds of negative moods,
Ekman continues. “It makes us vulnerable in
ways that we are normally not. So the negative
moods create a lot of problems for us, because they
change how we think. If I wake up in an irritable
mood, I’m looking for a chance to be angry.
Things that ordinarily would not frustrate me, do.
The danger of a mood is not only that it biases
thinking but that it increases emotions. When
I’m in an irritable mood, my anger comes
stronger and faster, lasts longer, and is harder to
control than usual. It’s a terrible
state…one I would be glad never to
have.”
Does this sound familiar? Do you see yourself,
others you know and care about? If you have
experiences to share, please drop me a note.
©2010 Jed
Diamond
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* * *
Wealth can't buy health, but health can buy
wealth. - Henry David Thoreau
Jed Diamond
is the internationally best-selling author of seven
books including Male
Menopause, now
translated into 17 foreign languages and his
latest book, The
Irritable Male Syndrome: Managing. The 4 Key Causes
of Depression and
Aggression. For over
38 years he has been a leader in the field of men's
health. He is a member of the International
Scientific Board of the World Congress on
Men’s Health and has been on the Board of
Advisors of the Men’s Health Network since its
founding in 1992. His work has been featured in
major newspapers throughout the United States
including the New York Times, Boston Globe, Wall
Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, and USA
Today. He has been featured on more than 1,000
radio and T.V. programs including The View with
Barbara Walters, Good Morning America, Inside
Edition, CBS, NBC, and Fox News, To Tell the Truth,
Extra, Leeza, Geraldo, and Joan Rivers. He also did
a nationally televised special on Male Menopause
for PBS. He looks forward to your feedback.
E-Mail.
You can visit his website at www.menalive.com
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