How to Overcome Tension Problems

The Male Stress Syndrome: How to Recognize and Live With It by Georgia Witkin-Lanoil (Newmarket Press: $15.95).

Anatomy is destiny for both women and men, asserts psychologist Georgia Witkin-Lanoil in her well-researched companion volume to “The Female Stress Syndrome,” a Book-of-the-Month Club selection that explored the physical, social and psychological causes of female stress.

Now on male turf, she focuses on things that go wrong more often in men--particularly, that hard-driving, drinking, smoking, “Type A” guy. Familiar statistics inform us that males have greater incidents of heart attacks, high blood pressure and ulcers, while the male death rate from cancer, suicide and accidents remains two to three times higher than in women.

But by taking the author-devised Male Stress Survey, the reader would, presumably, be able to pinpoint the sources of anger, anxiety and resulting stress to counteract cardiovascular disorders, sexual dysfunction and psychological slowing down.

As for hidden stress, there are numerous differences between the sexes. The author generalizes that men “dread” funerals and psychotherapy, that they put off dental appointments, become babyish about calling in sick, often say no rather than yes to activities they would really enjoy.