PMS vs IMS: Who's Got It Worse?

We all know about PMS - premenstrual syndrome. Well, women have not cornered the market on being hormonally challenged. It seems that men have their own cross to bear: IMS - Irritable Male Syndrome. Now, you may be thinking that this is just another bite of the alphabet soup of syndromes we've been fed over the years. But, for men who are experiencing the symptoms on a daily basis, this is a real problem that can be tough to swallow.

IMS is defined by Jed Diamond, psychotherapist and author of seven books, including the international bestseller Male Menopause, as "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."

The cornerstones of the syndrome are the following core symptoms:

1. Hypersensitivity - Compared to being "emotionally sunburned." A man may feel that others actually go out of their way to be irritating, as if giving him a slap on the back when he is sunburned. Family and friends may feel the need to walk on eggshells to avoid a blow up.
2. Anxiety - Nervousness or agitation, often about something that is perceived that is going to happen. Will I lose my job? What if my wife leaves me? Can I take care of my family? And on and on.
3. Frustration - Men with IMS "often don't even know what they need. When they do know, they often feel there's no way they can get it. They feel defeated in the things they try to do to improve their lives," according to Diamond.
4. Anger - This is a complex emotion that can be described as displeasure or hostility that can lead to aggression and violence, but can also lead to depression or suicide.

IMS is typically linked to testosterone deficiency, a component of andropause. If you believe that you - or a man you care about - might benefit from testing, a BodyLogicMD affiliated physician can help get things started.