OCR Text |
Show Depression, anxiety, blues, blahs all a part of the male menopause By Gary Lesser Lifestyle Staff Writer In the battle for the emancipation of women, a noted and liberatiomst, disgusted embittered with male chauvinist attitudes, is reputed to have said: Men have their penods all month lung. Which is the crux 3b? Svilt Cake jjile style Food Women ection Wednesday. Mav 30, Family 1973 Page f of the r argument in the debate as to whether there is a male menopause. One need ever-popula- not extend his mind to discover that something cannot cease to be that has never existed. the transition accompanying from middle to old age. Encompassing physical (vertigo, constipation, itching) and psychological (loss of . These symptoms, they say, are brought on by a decrease in the production of the male hormone, testosterone-broug- ht on very- similarly to - the w'ay a womans menopause is brought on by the sudden decline in her estrogen production. But viva la difference! With very few exceptions, the testosterone drop is gradual, subtle and slight. Estrogen loss, however, is sharp, like the graph of a stock market crash. the changes Apparently, that occur in the typical middle-age- d male cannot be explained purely on a hormonal basis. The nervousness, the dizziness, the loss of libido attributable to what? Discussion of a male men-- , opause involves a middle-ag- e syndrome, or what is known as a male climacteric. The climacteric is the bodily and psychic involutional changes teresl, indecisiveness, excitability) symptoms, the climacteric includes male personalis ty disturbances and sex tiled peak during the middle y ears. prob-It-ni- HEW Findings A recent Loss not Enough While Last in a series Hormone Decrease says. in-- Men don't menstruate. A simple medical fact, yes, but there are those in medicine who insist there's a male menopause that time in a man's life, in his middle vears (4d to 60) when he experiences the annoying symptoms associated with the female menopause depression, an-- , xieties, hot tlashes, irritability and the rest. vice president of his company, but he realizes he wont move Dr. Grower up any higher. Department of Education and Welfare report on work patterns, Work in America, discusses the climacteric: Health, A general feeling of obsolescence appears to overtake middle managers when they reach their late thirties. Their careers appear to have reached a plateau, and they realize that life from here on will be a long and inevitable decline, the report says. There is a marked increase in the death rate between the ages of 35 to 40 for employed men, apparently as a result of this midlife crisis. Dr. Bernard I. Grosser, a psychiatrist at the University of Utah Medical Center, believes the values our society places on performance and achievement to this lead crisis. comes The depression when a man realizes he's achieved, in his fifties or at whatever age, all hes going to achieve at his job. Maybe hes made the step to be a that acknowledging be acute depression may caused by a sudden loss m testosterone, he says the loss, by itself, is seldom enough to warrant the depression. The area of depression lias many degrees and infinite causes. Some men become depressed with every family emergency such as births, deaths, and now their menopause, Dr. Grosser believes the depression comes as a cirresult of many middle-ag- e cumstances. For instance, middle-agemen may become depressed over the loss of parents, dose friends and children; depressed over physical probd lems, loss of self esteem, income, job and the bodys normal aging process. To the middle-ageman, seeing a balding, wrinkled head in the mirror every morning can be d traumatic. become Some anxious, even psychotic, says Dr. Grosser. Someone once said the onset of middle age comes only with the realization that life is finite and man is mortal. Dr. Grosser adding, agrees, Middle age is only a state of mind . . . youre only as old as you feel. He does, though, make one The important distinction traumas, feelings of helplessness. decline in job performtoward tendencies ance, : alchohohsm, philandering and out witii younger going women theyre not so much male menopause as the syndrome of middle age. Much of the depression occurs as the middle-ageman sees his life fading inlo the sunset. At 25. his whole lile is ahead of him. At 50. d what's left'5 Aging's for Elderly Plenty, but a man doesn't see it that way. lie's been taught that aging is for the aged. To live is to be young. So say the billboards, magazines, movies. Hes losing control over so much his children, his body, his job, and as far as he's concerned, his mind. He ses the hopelessness of all. the futility of what many call the "best years of your life. But not everybody is affected this way. Middle age doesn't create neurotic monsters of most men. Generally, men make the successful transition to middle age with few traumas. Men vvho've been inadequate from the start are more likely to experience a severe climacteric depression than those who have successfully adapted to each of life's stages. On occasion, men are subject to the blues and blahs too But seldom is this the case. d middle-age- Says Lawrence Roost, psychiatrist at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan, Whenever you see a case of menopausal depression and take a careful history, you will invariably find this isn't the first occurrence." of Dr. Burt Chamberlain the Family Services Counseling Center, agrees. A man who has made a life to adjustment go through all that, he says. Its how they deal with stress it depends on their coping mechanisms. good doesnt Situation Assessment It's how the individua. assesses his situation that brings on his depression or lack of it, says Dr. Chamber-laiDepression is just one to deal with your way n feelings." Dr. Stan Richards, enter director, blames the depression on society's orientations. Oui emphasis unfortunate, on outh is he says. Middle age is the best part of life, the most productive. Fittingly, his solution is aimed at the cause. If society would regard middle age more highly, we'd have a lot less problems. We have too high a priority on is youth youth everything The Council on oriented. Aging has started a program to build into advertising a veneration of aging. Some cultures. such as the Oriental, are aging oriented, he commented. diversity of interests appears to be one of the better ways to adjust to aging, says All aging is, is adjusting to says Dr. Richards. change, must have things People built into their lifestyle, so they dont have to grope for new interests at age 45 or so. Mount Sinai geriatric chiatrist Alvin Goldfarb psybe- lieves some individuals become depressed for no apparent reason. He says the depression in middle years may be triggered by a genetic similar to a predisposition for diabetes. A Dr. Richards. He cited studies showing persons with a multiplicity of interests to receive more satisfaction than others with more shallow lives in the middle-ag- e period of adjustment. He says a middle-age- d man. who is in the looking forward and backward stages, depending on his genetic background, may be more vulnera This person might be too old to play with the paper dolls Nuptial news Bertola-Brow- n Dear Karren Bertola and Thomas Vernon Brown were married Tuesday in L. S. Skaggs Memorial Chapel, First Baptist Church. writing Ann Landers: I'm to you because you are the problem. I've been married to this man for 18 years. He is a good person and I trust him completely. But the idiot has a crush on you. He has at least 10 pictures of you pasted here and small there in the house ones that he has cut out of A reception was given at the Hotel Utah Jade Room. Fort Douglas Hidden Valley Country Club was setting for the rehearsal dinner. The bride, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Keith Bertola, Salt Lake City, attends the University of Utah. The bridegroom, son of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Romney Sr., Bountiful, also attends the U. of U. He affiliates with Sigma Pi. papers in search a new picture of Ann Landers. When he finds it he Mrs. Thomas V. Brown Now you can squeeze milk from the tropical coconut tinted My husband found a marvelous way of draining the juice out of a coconut. spots; in a few seconds, the spots disappear like magic. I wash the toothpaste off with clear water and put on a screwed a hole in the easy, top ith a corkscrew and it really works great! Mrs. John K. Miller f w - '"tv' w.;, Dear Heloise: I realize that many people buy several bars of soap at a time, especially when it is on sale. Then they remove the wrappers and tuck in the linen closet, in stored luggage, etc., but I wonder if anyone ever Ghost Jon thought of my idea? I always save one bar of soap for the guest room. I put the unwrapped bar between the pillows on the bed so there is always a refreshing smell. Dear Heloise: On a dress I made of permanent-press material for my You never have to worry about a musty oder in the guest bed, and my guests love Have yon noticed: That children always spill their popcorn at the top of the Heloise ? escalator. granddaughter, I ran decorative tape around the long sleeves and hem before I turned them up. Then I turned the hems up behind the tape. This way, when the dress or sleeves are let down, the permanent crease wont show it's hidden under the trim. Delons B. Dear Heloise: stubborn For removing stains from your hairUwhen tinting your hair, especially with dark colors youll find plain toothpaste most effective. little toothpaste on a washcloth and rub it over the I put a 1 A gynecologist Ask him. little baby oil or petroleum jelly. Ive tried all sorts of other spot removers, but nothing seems to work on my skin as it is sensitive and absorbs every drop of hair color tint. Luciana Sounds like a great idea, Luciana! And safe too! Heloise Dear Heloise: Here is the best wmy to get rid of stale or sour odors from your kitchen sponges: Wet them thoroughly, sprinkle generously with baking soda and let stand overnight In the morning, rinse thoroughly and your sponges will smell dean again. Mrs. Z. Givelis it. A Reader Dear Heloise: This is what I do when our family goes on camping trips. There are always a few things that need washing while were camping. So I find it especially convi-enieto stop by the local laundromat before we leave home and get one or two of the vending machine boxes of detergent! One box seems to have enough to do the few things I wash out, and there are no extra jars or no large boxes to get damp (and the contents lumpy.) chortles with glee and tapes it to his bathroom mirror, the refrigerator door or some other ridiculous place. When he read in the paper that you were going to be on the Dinah Shore Show he stayed home from work half a day to see it. At first I thought it was very funny but I am not laughing anymore. Any advice for a darned fool in Ohio? Jealous Dear J: A man who has been married 18 years is a little old to be playing with paper dolls. And thats exactly what hes doing. But cheer up, honey, and be thankful its me. You have nothing to worry about. Dear Ann Landers: Regarding the menopausal womat; who asked you to help her find the words to tell friend husband she is no longer interested in sex: Perhaps her problem is more psychological than physical. If its true, as she says, that her husband has no respect for her jud' ment, then perhaps her inability to respond to him sexually might be an expression her resentment rather than the tired excuse that Mother Nature has decreed her sex of life is over. If my husband let me know he had no respect for my judgment, I wouldnt be very affectionate either. If this is the ladys problem, I suggest that she see a counselor on the way home from the gynecologist. Pragmatist Dear f prag: There are many effective medicines that can help replenish the waning supply Marilynn Bevingtoo A of estrogen THATS the problem. If if its about her. What should I do Helga-ism- ? about her latest should suggest it. Dear Ann Landers: My new neighbor was born in Europe Ami your column. He collects them from various papers and each one is He keeps buying different. of By Heloise Dear Heloise: another problem, theres help for that, too, and a competent Landers Last week a guest spilled cranberry sauce on my white linen tablecloth. Helga asked These middle-agproblems have a profound effect on the individual, his family, his job, his society. Male climacteric syndrome. Male menopause. Middle-ag- e blues. Call it what you want. Blame it on the hormones, if you like. Or the job, if that's convenient. Or the society that's too e youth-oriente- some Maybe people just Or is it too few interests? Too much this, too little that? cant make adjustments. Whether in the mind or the body, menopause is here to stay. In men. too. Submit a picture before wedding The great increase in the number of weddings in our area makes it possible for The Tribune to publish only the engagement or wedding photograph, but not both. g Ann Lm!ei ble than others to the stimuli which may cause depression. To assure publication, photographs for use with wedding announcements in The Tribune should be in the office of the Lifestyle Dept., Room 201, Tribune Bldg, at least one week before day of the wedding ceremony. The $5 charge for is to cover photographs engraving costs. Because of the volume of photographs handled. The Tribune can assume no responsibility for pictures submitted. Golden wedding and birth- day announcements Can damage Carpet beetles can damage home furnishings, fabrics and most clothing. if I had any idea of how to get it out. I told her as a I guess the only sure joke, way is to use a scissors. Do you know that dingbat took a scissors and cut out the spot? My husband thought it was hilarious couldn't stop laughing. Should 1 make her pay for the cloth? I cant believe she didnt know better. Still Boiling Dear S.B.: The answer is no. If Helga has been working for you for five years and you still havent learned that and came to thie country as a bride 10 years ago. She has lovely taste in clothes and is really quiet elegant. But one thing about her bothers me because it spoils her appearance. She has more hair on she takes everything literally her legs than my husband. then you are the prizePve heard some unkind winning dumbbell of the remarks about this and I feel Western world. guilty because I haventt had" the nerve to set her straight on the way its done in America. Should I or shouldnt I? JEANNE HARRIS Etiquette BY The G.W. Dear G.W.: You didnt say your friend was blind so I assume her vision is all right. If shes been here 10 years, its long enough to have noticed the difference between her legs and the legs of other women in this country. Its safe to assume that what is considered vital to good grooming to most women doesnt matter to her. So MYOB, dearie. Confidential to A Better Me: How refreshing to get a letter that says, If people dont like what they are they can stop blaming their parents and go to work on themselves. Its a lot easier to blame inadequacies on others but the real test is what you arc going to do about it. Dear Ann Landers: Helga, the woman who does my laundry, is without a doubt g dumbbell of the the Western world. She has worked for me for five years and I could write a book If your goa! is income time to look at 714 . . . now is the government-guarantee- d bonds. How much surplus savings do you have locked up? II it's yielding the usual rates . . . you might increase 50 or more! your income from that money by It that sounds good to you . . . read our new booklet: Bonds 7 Reasons Why Government-Guarantee- d Make Sense Today." For your tree copy, just call A. G. Edwards or mail the coupon. It might yield a lot more than just in- 40. 3 ZS-- Know your own strength. There's o big difference between o pat on the back and a whock. teresting tacts about bonds, A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. Memtars New torn OVERWEIGHT The Odrinex Plan can help you become the slim trim person that you would like to be. Odrinex has been used successfully by thousands all over the country for 14 years Get rid of excess fat and live longer. mr. is FAT Sfoc Eacftange. inc OOOOO am Jntertttod in earning higher interest on my money Please send me your booklet ' 7 Reasons Why Government Guaranteed Bonds Make Sense Today I are charged for space used at the rate of $6.40 for the first inch and S4.90 for each additional inch. They should be submitted to classified advertising department. Newspaper Agency Corp.. 143 S. Main. prize-winnin- 29 |