Irritability in aging men is a very commonly reported symptom of andropause.
Large mood swings in men 40-60 is commonly a symptom of andropause, the consequence of hormonal imbalance, and an unpleasant reality both for the man and for those around him.
Irritable Male Syndrome (IMS) describes these hormone-related male mood swings. IMS is often a result of high cortisol levels and low testosterone levels.
While everybody has Bad Days, Bad Days shouldn't be every day! Some men respond to these hormonal imbalances by lashing out at others, while others turn their volatile emotions inward, often becoming depressed.
Chronic behaviors and emotional states characteristic of men with IMS include anger, anxiousness, argumentative behavior, defensiveness, demanding behavior, chronic dissatisfaction, frustration, hostility, imaptience, sarcasm, sadness, tension, and being unloving and withdrawn.
Irritable Male Syndrome can have a number of possible hormonal causes, with the most common cause being high levels of the stress hormone cortisol and / or low testosterone. There is a relationship here: high levels of cortisol tend to lower testosterone levels.
