When you consider some of the symptoms of low testosterone levels in men it is perhaps not surprising that there will be the tendency to develop a corresponding lack in self-confidence. Self-esteem can be severely battered by some of the symptoms of low testosterone levels that include insomnia, weight gain, depression and low libido. Add to that the fact that low testosterone levels will drain you of energy and often frequently rob you of the ability to have sex, and it would be amazing if someone suffering from low testosterone levels was not feeling a lack of self-confidence.
As a hormone, testosterone has a wide effect on many aspects of our bodies from the psychological to the physiological. It is the most vital of the male sex hormones and is responsible for keeping a man looking like a man.
Testosterone replacement therapy can be a big help in restoring self-confidence as the other physical and psychological symptoms are addressed. However as we always say the first thing you need to do if you suspect you have low testosterone is to book an appointment with a doctor to find out if there are any other underlying health issues that also need to be dealt with.
When you’re walking around feeling as though you’re in a fog it is natural that yourself confidence will take a hit. After all you feel as though you can’t rely on yourself to focus in a meeting or concentrate enough to take in a seminar or deal with your tax return. It’s a very unsettling feeling and self-confidence is going to be part of the collateral damage from this, as you battle with depression and feelings of inadequacy. With low testosterone levels, you will notice muscles shrinking and body fat increasing in the places you don’t want to see it. All of a sudden the body you’ve taken pride in looks 40 years older than it is.
But there are things that you can do to help yourself mitigate the results of a lack of self- confidence and give you back your equilibrium.
Firstly, don’t keep it to yourself. Keep the lines of communication open and tell your partner and even discuss with male friends what is going on. You may be surprised to find out how many other men you know have been suffering in silence. Keep your doctor informed of how you are feeling, as well.
Make sure you get plenty of sleep. That is because it’s during these deep sleeping hours that your testosterone levels are replenished. Tossing and turning all night or keeping irregular hours will do nothing to help you increase those vital testosterone levels.
Don’t overstretch yourself. It can be a natural impulse to go at it hell for leather when you start to notice changes in your body and are desperate to regain some of your self-confidence. A sensible exercise regime without exhausting yourself is what is needed.
Be kind to yourself and don’t beat yourself up. Understand that what is happening to you is not your fault, and it’s nothing that you should feel guilty about.
Spend a lot of time outside going for walks and enjoying nature. This one really works for me and there is plenty of evidence that spending even a small amount of time outside each day can make a real difference to our mood and well-being.
Try meditation or yoga to help you relax and regain focus. You can do a lot for yourself confidence if you are good to yourself and indulge in activities the raise your mood and make you feel good although if you are anything like me it might take a while to embrace them. For years I would try meditating and spend the whole time trying to not listen to the internal dialogue in my head, “relax, stop thinking about thinking, think of a peaceful beach – Got it, no hand on I’m still thinking about what to have for dinner tonight”
Yoga was similar but I think its really important to point out there are many styles and forms of yoga plus an abundance of yogis or teachers and like in all walks of life, some are good and some are bad so my advice would be to try several different styles with several different teachers until you find one that resonates.
Set yourself small goals you can be pleased with and congratulate yourself about reaching, but don’t be unrealistic and set yourselves unattainable targets. This will be counterproductive as your self-confidence takes a further hit when you fail to hit an unachievable goal.
Using testosterone replacement therapy can help you on the way to getting back to normal again. You do not have to suffer with low testosterone levels with no hope of any improvement.
Self-confidence can be a difficult thing to quantify but if you are feeling a lack of it, you know! Use these simple fixes to get yourself back to feeling like you again.