In its essence, anxiety is the fear of the future. It means we are wary of something dangerous waiting around the corner. It’s that feeling you got as a kid, when you switched off the light and ran to your bed. And there is a lot to be anxious about.
The usual anxious trifecta, the three things men usually worry about the most were work, money, and home life. To some degree this is still true. However, as we developed more as men, and the world became more complex, the list has a couple more additions. We still worry about work, money, and home life AND we also worry about:
Relationships
We stress about being a good enough husband, boyfriend, partner, father, and friend. Am I loveable? Do I bring something to the table that other people enjoy? Am I enough? Do I feel that I belong? Am I happy in my relationship and do I want to stay?
Identity
As we go through life, we change. Our identity shifts as our priorities shifts. It is a cycle and a process to incorporate new life stages and changes. We question our values, our wants, our plans, our goals, our future.
Sex
We ask ourselves if we are good enough lovers? We fear the changes midlife brings and what it says about our ability to perform sexually. We ask if sex is important, do I need to explore new things, and can I bring my partner joy?
Aging
Men are anxious about aging now, too. Should I get that injection, should I go for a nip and a tuck? We are concerned about our declining physical abilities and the inevibility of aging. Will someone still find me attractive? If I am not just my body, what am I?
Masculinity
Is it okay to be a man? What does it mean to be a good man? What are my values? How do other men perceive me? More men are lonely, alienated, and depressed than ever before. We are worried about fitting in and being accepted.
The Future
We live in a rapidly changing word. AI and large language models are impacting our way of life. We are anxious about the impact on us, our job security, and our safety. Climate change and suffocating in plastic is also real threats to our safety. We are worried about how we will survive in the future and if we will be able to afford a home to live in.
Yes, we still get anxious about work, money, and home. We also get anxious about a range of other things. Anxiety is like a cloud of wandering dread following us around. We can address it or keep on feeling anxious and stressed all of the time.Welcome to WordPress! This is your first post. Edit or delete it to take the first step in your blogging journey.
