Stress is a relatively universal construct. Everyone experiences stress no matter what our background is, what phase of life we’re in, and what gender we are.
The things that contribute to daily stress are endless. Whether it’s related to work, family, friends, finances, intimate relationships, or general responsibilities, each thing can start to add up.
Knowing how to cope with stress and manage symptoms is important in order to navigate the journey successfully. While stress can be experienced universally, how it is handled is often different between men and women.
Why do Men and Women Handle Stress Differently?
When it comes to stress, men and women typically do things a bit differently. There are often stereotypes people use to explain that difference. In all actuality, there is a deeper explanation.
Hormonal Differences
One of the big reasons men and women handle stress differently is due to hormones. Stress responses are impacted by three key hormones. These are cortisol, oxytocin, and epinephrine.
Cortisol is often called the stress hormone and is released during periods of stress. Cortisol interacts with epinephrine to increase blood pressure and cause change to blood sugar levels. As this change occurs, oxytocin is released as a response. Oxytocin release for women can counteract the cortisol and epinephrine, causing a sense of relaxation and calm. For men, the oxytocin release tends to be much smaller. For this reason, they may feel higher stress levels.
Stress Response Differences
You may be familiar with the concept of fight or flight. When faced with a stressful situation, the idea is that you can either flee the situation or fight against whatever the danger is to try to stay safe. It originated in the early 1900s and was thought to be a key to survival.
In today’s world, the stressors we face are much different from those at that time. Our stress isn’t often considered to be dangerous, yet the stress responses are still used.
Studies have shown that men are more likely to take on a fight or flight response. When stressed, they’ll try to fight back against the source of their stress and struggle. In the instance where they’re not able to win the fight, they may become frustrated and choose to walk away from the problem.
Women, on the other hand, will try to process through their emotions and alleviate stress. They’re not “wired” to just walk away and ignore what they’re feeling.
How Do Men and Women Handle Stress Differently?
The approach to stress management will look different for men versus women. Women get deep in their emotions and will turn to their support system, whether friends, family, or colleagues, for advice. They want to discuss what’s going on and figure out a solution to the source of stress.
Men are generally on the opposite side of the fence. They’re not as open and honest about their emotions. In fact, they may try to hide what they’re feeling and distract themselves to avoid it. They don’t have deep emotional conversations with their friends and support system.
Coping strategies are important for managing recurring stress to prevent it from snowballing into a larger issue. Men are more likely to turn to unhealthy options like drinking, substance use, sex, gambling, or reckless behavior.
Next Steps
Stress is a normal human experience, no matter what your gender identity is. If your stress is becoming a frequent occurrence or starting to interfere with daily functioning, you may need to explore additional support options.
Stress is normal, but it shouldn’t be an overwhelming and consuming feeling. If you’re interested in learning more about your stress and how therapy can help develop coping strategies, contact us today about anxiety therapy.
