Feb 11
15
Male Menopause Interview With Dr. Jed Diamond
Male Menopause Interview With Dr. Jed Diamond
Male Menopause/Irritable Male Syndrome – An interview with Dr. Jed Diamond
Dr. Fred: Jed, your book, Irritable Male Syndrome opened up my eyes to what I’m dealing with as a man. I can relate with the “irritable male” and have . What made you choose males as a focus for your writing and clinical practice?
Most of the focus on the field, when I began writing was on women, men’s health need a champion. I felt the field of men’s health needed a champion.
Dr. Fred: What are the key issues that men have to deal with as they move into the Third Age (45 to 75 years of age)?
There are issues that both men and women must deal with as we age: Aches and pains, illness, dying parents, young-adult children, etc. However there are also issues that are exclusive to men such as Male Menopause (Andropause), Irritable Male Syndrome, and male-type depression that I’ve dedicated my life’s work to.
Dr. Fred: What is your take on debunking the misnomer of midlife crisis and relating it to the transition of midlife?
I see mid-life, in many ways, as similar to adolescence. We are making a large transition at both times of life. In the case of adolescence, we are moving from childhood to first adulthood. With mid-life, we are making the transition from first adulthood to what I call superadulthood. For the first time we have a chance to be truly who we were meant to be.
Dr. Fred: In what ways are male menopause, depression and irritable male syndrome related?
I see this as three different but overlapping circles. Male Menopause affects all men, sometime between the ages of 40 and 55, though it can start as early as 35 or as late as 65. Irritable male syndrome affects a smaller, but still significant number of men (perhaps 60-80%). Male-type depression impacts a smaller number of men. We’ve assumed that women experience depression at rates that are twice the rate of men. However my research shows that many depressed men are underdiagnosed and undertreated because we use theare using the} wrong criteria for diagnosis.
Dr. Fred: What is the difference between Irritable Male Syndrome from similar syndromes?
Irritable Male syndrome results from: Hormonal fluctuations, changes in brainchemistry, increased stress, and changes in male identity. It takes a skilled practitioner to distinguish IMS from such things as depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, ADHD and other disorders.
Dr. Fred: You say that “IMS is ultimately about violence.” Would you elaborate on this?
Our world is violent. We see it expressed in childhood where children are mistreated (including being circumcised, which I believe is a form of child sexual abuse). As we age this destructive childrearing expresses itself in irritability,hypersensitivity, anger, and rage. When it is turned inward it can lead to suicide. When turned outward it can lead to violence and war.
Dr. Fred: What is it about men that has them be susceptible to IMS?
Some is our inherent hormone complement. Testosterone makes us vulnerable to aggression. Many are familiar with (the rage that results from taking anabolic steroids (so called ‘roid rage)|’roid rage’}. We would see that in football players or weightlifters. Though it is a problem, it has really been overhyped. The real issue it turns out is not too much testosterone, but too little. When males lose their testosterone, they are more restless, irritable, and angry. Mixing up exercise patterns and dietary changes can be useful. So can testosterone supplementation for some men.
Dr. Fred: Why is it important for women to be aware of this syndrome?
IMS may be a problem going on within men, but it often impacts women. Many women have told me that their husbands irritability, anger, and withdrawal is undermining their marriage and causing painful issues within the family. They seek help for the man, but also for themselves.
Dr. Fred: In our culture, men tend to have a “lone ranger” mentality. They’re not overly communicative and often in denial about issues like depression and IMS. What can their female partners do that would assist their male partners in coming to terms with these issues?
Men are often afraid to seek help. They see it has unmanly. This includes even going infor their annual medical checkup. As one male client put it. “I go in for my annual check-up maybe once in 10 years.” Women are often the ones who in their own powerful ways tell the man that he needs to get checked out. I have a whole program for women on how to help themselves while they are helping the man in their lives.
Dr. Fred: contributes most to Third Agers experiencing genuine happiness?
Accepting who we are and that includes the different changes that men and women experience as we get older. Becoming an older man poses different challenges than becoming an older woman. We can learn a lot from one another. But to do that, we have to be willing to let go of “right” and “wrong” and find ways to communicate and heal.
Dr. Fred: What projects are your working on now?
I have a new book: “Mr Mean: Saving Your Relationship from Irritable Male Syndrome” and I am working on a new book that I target for release by the end of the year titled, “Tapping Power.”
People can receive my Free E-Book: Male Menopause (Andropause) What Is This Crazy Thing We Are Going Through? by visiting my website: http://SurvivingMaleMenopause.com.
Dr. Fred on Male “Midlife Crisis”
For more information about Dr. Jed: Contact at Jed@MenAlive.com
Dr. Jed Diamond has been helping men, and the women who love them, for over 40 years. He has written 8 books, including Male Menopause, The Irritable Male Syndrome, and Mr Mean. He is passionate about helping transform relationships and make the world a better place for us all.
Article from articlesbase.com
Related Male Menopause Articles
