By Jed Diamond
QUESTION: I'm 55 years old and I'm unhappy with my job, my sex life and my attitude about everything. My doctor put me on Paxil and told me to relax, but I need real help! I have thought of running away, suicide, etc. Making the first step is the hardest part. Where do I start? Where do I go? What type of doctor or other expert do I look for? Any advice would be well-appreciated.
ANSWER: As painful as this time of life can be, recognizing that something is wrong is 75 percent of the solution. So you're already way ahead of most. Too many men deny that anything is wrong, and when they finally recognize that there is a problem, they blame someone else for their unhappiness.
Male menopause (or andropause) generally occurs for men between the ages of 40 and 55, though it can begin as early as 35 or as late as 65. It is a multi-dimensional change of life that involves hormonal, physiological, psychological, interpersonal, sexual, social, economic and spiritual changes.
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