The emotional challenges for men aren’t unique compared to women. However, the way in which men go about these problems is unique, often avoiding proper treatment when it’s required. As such, it’s in our interest to understand these challenges to promote emotional intelligence for men.

The Statistics

Men’s mental health struggles are more common than you may assume, with more than one in four men struggling with a condition at some point in their lives. ¹ While the challenges men face are much the same as those women struggle with, men are less likely to seek professional help.

Some argue this has to do with unhealthy traditional masculine norms. However, most men feel a natural inclination to handle emotions on their own terms. The reason? Emotional discipline is a necessary element of masculinity, it allows men to make tough decisions in difficult times.

Still, this isn’t to say men shouldn’t receive professional help when necessary. A direct result of men not seeking help has been the following statistics:

• Men are 4x more likely to commit suicide than women. ²
• Male loneliness has reached epidemic levels, with 15% of men claiming they have no close friends. ³
• About 16% of men (ages 18 to 44) have reported having no sexual contact within the last year. ⁴

So, what are the emotional challenges for men that are leading to these statistics?

12 Common Emotional Challenges for Men

In order to cope with stress and social expectations, men may develop one (or more) of the following conditions:

1.) Anxiety

There are several types of anxiety, each of which cause excessive worry. When gone untreated, this can lead to several problems in daily life, including strain on relationships and work issues.

According to the National Institute of Menal Health (NIMH), about 14% of American men experience anxiety at some point in their lives.

2.) Depression

Depression is one of the most common results of emotional suppression in men. And it leads to some of the most devestating consequences. Common symptoms include: ⁵

• Aggression and irritability
• Physical pain
• Risk taking/recklessness
• Substance abuse
• Suicidal ideation

According to NIMH, 6.2% of adult men have experienced one major depressive episode within the last year.

3.) Anger and Irritability

While anger disorders aren’t considered a mental health condition, there’s no denying their overlap with other conditions, such as anxiety and depression. Some men may only present emotions of anger or irritability, leading to suppression of other emotions. In most cases, this is a fear of vulnerability in men.

4.) Substance Use Disorders

To handle the weight of societal expectations of masculinity, some men turn to drugs and alcohol to cope. Naturally, this can lead to other problems in life, such as financial and legal.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 10% of U.S. adults have a substance use disorder at some point in their lives.

5.) Work-Related Stress Burnout

As natural providers, men may find themselves experiencing work-related stress burnout. While this can take a toll on masculinity and emotional expression, it can also lead to other conditions, such as an anxiety disorder.

According to the Canadian government, 20% of Canadian men experience high (or very high) levels of work-related stress.

6.) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Approximately 20% to 30% of male U.S. military veterans are diagnosed with PTSD at some point in their lives. Since men are more likely to join the military, this condition is extremely prevelant among the gender.

According to NIMH, 3% to 5% of the U.S. population are afflicted with PTSD. However, it needs to be noted this statistic isn’t exclusive to military veterans. Men can develop other types of trauma (i.e. child abuse).

7.) Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

While ADHD is believed to be underdiagnosed in women, it’s understood as a condition more common among boys. When left untreated, adult ADHD can form which can inhibit many areas of daily life.

According to NIMH, it’s estimated that 5% of adult men are diagnosed were diagnosed with ADHD at some point in their lives. Such a diagnosis may also lead to other mental concerns, such as depression.

8.) Bipolar Disorder

The risk of bipolar disorder are in the mood swing episodes. These include: ⁶

• Mania (or Hypomania) – Extreme highs of euphoria and energy that last one week.
• Depressive – Extreme lows that last two weeks.

While men and women struggle equally with bipolar, it’s believed men are less likely to get diagnosed. According to NIMH, about 3% of men struggle with bipolar disorder.

9.) Personality Disorders

Personality disorders define a range of conditions that involve abnormal behaviroal patterns. These often come out in personal relationships and can stunt a man’s ability to grow.

About 60% of individuals diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) are men. ⁷ Furthermore, 3% of men struggle with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD).

10.) Behvaioral Addictions

Beyond drugs and alcohol, men can struggle with other forms of addiction. These include the following:

• Compulsive shopping
• Gambling
• Gaming
• Pornography
• Workaholism

11.) Body Image Issues

Men may struggle with several body image issues, from dissatisfaction to disorders, such as:

• Anorexia
• Binge eating
• Body image dysmorphia

Such image issues can lead to feelings of shame and anxiety. This may be coupled with a strong desire to change the body (i.e. raise testosterone and build muscle). It may also be a product of specific elements of body, such as:

• Aging
• Hair loss
• Height
• Penis size

While still more common among women, it’s estimated that 36% of those who struggle with a binge-eating disorder are men. ⁸ Furthermore, about 2% of men are affected by body image dysmorphia. ⁹

12.) Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

OCD is marked by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Such cycle can be detrimental to a man’s life, often getting in the way of responsibilities. It’s estimated that 1% of mena re affected by OCD. ¹⁰

What Stressors Lead to These Emotional Challenges for Men?

While we’re breaking emotional stereotypes, it’s also worth discussing other areas of stress men may struggle with. These include the following:

• Bullying (in school or the worplace)
• Fatherhood
• Financial strain
• Lack of purpose (or meaning) in life
• Loneliness
• Other health issues (i.e. cardiovascular diseases)
• Relationship difficulties
• Retirement
• Sexual health and dysfunction
• Work problems

Final Word

While the emotional challenges of men and women aren’t completely different, men continue to have a unique set of circumstances due to societal expectations and their role in masculinity. The best way to navigate these challenges is to receive profressional help, preferably through a licensed therapist who can identify negative thought patterns and help you overcome them.

Emotional Challenges for Men FAQs

References

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² Murphy GE. Why women are less likely than men to commit suicide. Compr Psychiatry. 1998 Jul-Aug;39(4):165-75. doi: 10.1016/s0010-440x(98)90057-8. PMID: 9675500.

³ Roy C, Bhattacharya K, Dunbar RIM, Kaski K. Turnover in close friendships. Sci Rep. 2022 Jun 30;12(1):11018. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-15070-4. PMID: 35773294; PMCID: PMC9247060.

⁴ Ueda P, Mercer CH, Ghaznavi C, Herbenick D. Trends in Frequency of Sexual Activity and Number of Sexual Partners Among Adults Aged 18 to 44 Years in the US, 2000-2018. JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Jun 1;3(6):e203833. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.3833. PMID: 32530470; PMCID: PMC7293001.

⁵ Chand SP, Arif H. Depression. 2023 Jul 17. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan–. PMID: 28613597.

⁶ Jain A, Mitra P. Bipolar Disorder. 2023 Feb 20. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan–. PMID: 32644424.

⁷ Stinson FS, Dawson DA, Goldstein RB, Chou SP, Huang B, Smith SM, Ruan WJ, Pulay AJ, Saha TD, Pickering RP, Grant BF. Prevalence, correlates, disability, and comorbidity of DSM-IV narcissistic personality disorder: results from the wave 2 national epidemiologic survey on alcohol and related conditions. J Clin Psychiatry. 2008 Jul;69(7):1033-45. doi: 10.4088/jcp.v69n0701. PMID: 18557663; PMCID: PMC2669224.

⁸ Halbeisen G, Laskowski N, Brandt G, Waschescio U, Paslakis G. Eating Disorders in Men. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2024 Feb 9;121(3):86-91. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.m2023.0246. PMID: 38019152; PMCID: PMC11002438.

⁹ Koran LM, Abujaoude E, Large MD, Serpe RT. The prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder in the United States adult population. CNS Spectr. 2008 Apr;13(4):316-22. doi: 10.1017/s1092852900016436. PMID: 18408651.

¹⁰ Fawcett EJ, Power H, Fawcett JM. Women Are at Greater Risk of OCD Than Men: A Meta-Analytic Review of OCD Prevalence Worldwide. J Clin Psychiatry. 2020 Jun 23;81(4):19r13085. doi: 10.4088/JCP.19r13085. PMID: 32603559.