Some men develop depression, loss of sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and other physical and emotional symptoms when they reach their late 40s to early 50s. Other symptoms common in men this age are: mood swings and irritability.
Gerald Lincoln, the late award-winning endocrinologist, theorized that “Irritable Male Syndrome” (a.k.a. “andropause”) was the result of the gradual loss of the testosterone hormone in aging men. According to Dr. Lincoln, men with low testosterone tended to be impatient, sarcastic, and argumentative.
Hormonal changes – Male hormones such as testosterone and androgen naturally decline with age. While this change is very gradual and doesn't usually produce noticeable symptoms, dropping hormone levels may cause irritability and may also affect self-esteem and sex drive, among other things.
Some say this happens because their testosterone levels start to go down. But can a lack of one hormone really create a bunch of grumpy, older men? “It's nonsense,” says Bradley Anawalt, MD, chief of medicine at the University of Washington. “Older men are irritable -- it's almost never due to testosterone.”
Stress is one of the main causes of anger in a relationship. According to the American Psychology Association (APA), stress makes men and women angry and irritable. It can also make them feel nervous and anxious, as well as experience fatigue. If your husband is angry at you, help them to cope with feelings of stress.
What Is Irritable Male Syndrome? Irritable male syndrome (IMS) is 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.
If your chance of dying within the next year is 2 percent or more, Shoven suggests you might be considered "old." The above chart shows that the threshold age for being considered old for men increased from about 55 in the 1920s to 70 today.
Mood swings in men can result from poor sleep, combined with hormone fluctuations, especially if they are facing stress at work or home. Sudden mood swings can occur when a man is not sleeping well and has just encountered a stressful situation. Also Try: How Well Do You Understand Your Spouse's Moods?
Be an active listener and make sure he feels heard during a mood swing. If he's open to help, offer a distraction to de-escalate the situation. Reiterate your boundaries around his behavior and encourage him to seek treatment if he's struggling to manage his feelings.
Apparently, men do not get meaner, irritable and more sarcastic as they get older. In fact, among the men participating in The Study of Adult Development - the longest longitudinal study of adult life ever conducted - men seem to get happier as they get older.
Decreased testosterone is a normal part of aging in men.
All men lose testosterone as we age. However, for most men testosterone remains within healthy limits and does not cause problems. However, many men's testosterone levels drop too far and the results are increased irritability, anger, and depression.
Experts say such “spousal mood infections” are also caused by the bond the partners share. If two people care a lot about each other, they are quick to perceive the mood changes, the vibes and the feelings, and unconsciously start imitating them.
Sometimes your partner may be giving you less affection than you'd like. In these cases, your partner may just require and prefer to give different levels of affection than you. In some cases, your partner could be trying to deal with effects that come with anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
middle age, period of human adulthood that immediately precedes the onset of old age. Though the age period that defines middle age is somewhat arbitrary, differing greatly from person to person, it is generally defined as being between the ages of 40 and 60.
Many men actually fall in love pretty fast On average, it can take a man a few months (around 88 days,) before he's in love. Of course, it depends on the man. Often a younger man falls in love faster, while an older man may take a while.
The United States' older adult population can thus, be divided into three life-stage subgroups: the young-old (approximately 65 to 74 years old), the middle-old (ages 75 to 84 years old), and the old-old (over age 85).
What Is Miserable Husband Syndrome? Miserable Husband Syndrome or Irritable Male Syndrome is when a man experiences hypersensitivity, anxiety, frustration, and anger due to the decrease in testosterone caused by aging (andropause), certain medications, or abnormally-high levels of stress.
It is also sometimes referred to as 'sudden divorce syndrome' or 'neglected wife syndrome. ' Feeling lonely in a relationship can sometimes contribute to the emotional disconnection that ultimately leads to the end of a marriage.
The question remains: why does a man lose interest in his wife? The truth is, if the connection is placed on the back burner for too long, a man loses interest in a woman. A husband wants a woman who still feels excited at the idea of spending time with him the way she used to.
There is also research to suggest that women aren't the only ones with hormonal cycles that affect behavior: Men's testosterone appears to cycle throughout the day, month, and possibly even the seasons, affecting their moods and sexual desire.
Irritability is a common emotion. Many factors can cause or contribute to irritability, including life stress, a lack of sleep, low blood sugar levels, and hormonal changes.