At times, everyone feels unhappy, irritated, or weary. When people are stressed, they often have trouble sleeping. These are common responses to life pressures that usually subside within a few days. Depression affects both men and women, although the symptoms are often extremely different. Depression in men may appear as being angry or aggressive rather than sad, their family, friends, and even doctors may not recognize the anger or aggression as depression symptoms. Men are also less likely than women to detect depression, talk about it, and seek therapy for it. Despite this, a substantial proportion of males suffer from depression.

What Defines Depression in Men?

Depression is a common but dangerous mood illness that can manifest itself in a variety of ways. Depression impairs one’s capacity to feel, think, and cope with day-to-day tasks. A man must experience symptoms for at least two weeks to be diagnosed with depression, often known as major depressive disorder or clinical depression. Many women appear sad or show melancholy, whereas some males with depression suppress their feelings and appear angry, impatient, or violent.

Men suffering from depression may feel exhausted and lose interest in their jobs, families, and interests. They may be more prone to sleeping problems as a result of bad mental health. Symptoms of mental illness can sometimes be mistaken for physical ailments. It’s crucial to understand how depression symptoms differ between men and women. It can assist people in being more aware of their own and their loved ones’ sadness. The first step toward healing is recognizing depression.

Signs and Symptoms of Depression in Men

Various people have different symptoms of depression, and men’s symptoms differ from women’s symptoms. When talking about men in depression, they are more prone than women to be exhausted and irritated, to lose interest in job, family, and/or hobbies, and to have trouble sleeping.

Signs of depression in men are mostly going to be-

• Feeling depressed or “empty”
• Are you irritated, furious, despairing, or worried?
• Work, family, or other hobbies or interests have lost their appeal (including sex)
• Feeling weary.
• Concentration problems
• Disturbance of sleep (unable to sleep or sleeping too much)
• Alterations in dietary habits (overeating or not eating at all)
• Suicide attempts and thoughts of suicide
• Complaints about the body (aches or pains, headaches, digestive problems)
• Inability to meet day-to-day obligations.

Also read: A man’s guide to emotional fitness

Causes of Depression in Men

In the United States, depression is one of the most frequent mental illnesses in men. According to current research, depression is induced by several risk factors, including:

• Men with a family history of depression may be more prone to develop the condition than those whose relatives do not suffer from it.
• Financial difficulties, the death of a loved one, a tumultuous relationship, major life changes, professional troubles, or any other stressful circumstance may cause depression in certain men.
• Depression can be accompanied by other significant medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, or Parkinson’s disease. Depression can exacerbate these issues, and vice versa. Medication for these conditions might sometimes have adverse effects that induce or aggravate depression.

Anxiety and Depression In Men and Why do Men Try to Hide Mental Health Problems

According to one research, this occurs as a result of males attempting to hide their sadness by adhering to so-called “masculine standards.” Men may lash out or indulge in self-destructive activities in an attempt to hide their sadness. Many guys do not seek depression therapy because they do not believe their emotions should be a concern. When males are ashamed of their emotional anguish, they talk about it dismissively, as if it doesn’t matter.

Men are taught from an early age that crying is unmanly and contradicts the alpha male ideal. It is forbidden to express any emotion, especially by sobbing. Tears, on the other hand, are common while talking about depression and sadness. Still, a guy who weeps may be labeled as weak or other derogatory terms. Men in depression are apprehensive about expressing grief and vulnerability, yet facing those concerns is the most effective approach to recover. There’s no reason why one shouldn’t be able to control their depression and become more conscious of their feelings with the proper combination of talk therapy and, if required, medication.

Anxiety and Depression In Men and Its Treatment

Depression is a condition that may be treated in a number of ways. Everyone reacts to treatment differently, but a doctor can help a patient decide which treatment is best for them. Friends and family should rally behind their loved one and encourage him to get treatment from a doctor or mental health expert. A physical or lab test can be performed by a health expert to rule out other diseases that may have symptoms similar to depression. He or she can also determine whether or not particular drugs are having an effect on depression.

The doctor will require a detailed history of symptoms, including when they began, how long they lasted, how severe they are, whether they have occurred previously, and if so, how they were handled. Depression is generally treated with medicines, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two after a diagnosis. Physical and mental health care are combined in the increasingly common “collaborative care” approach. A team of healthcare professionals and administrators, including a primary care doctor and specialists, participates in collaborative care.

Conclusion

When males are sad, they often find it difficult to seek help. It might be helpful to think about depression as the outcome of chemical changes in the brain and/or living in a demanding and stressful environment. It has nothing to do with being a failure or being weak. Increased knowledge of the symptoms of depression in men can assist individuals who are suffering from it seek treatment. It is critical to get depression treatment. Suicide is a prominent cause of mortality among males that may be avoided. Treatment can help a man’s mental health and emotional well-being substantially.

Stay strong!

Also Read: What You Can Do When A Man Suffers From Anxiety And Depression?