Depression in men is often overlooked
Depression is often
considered a woman’s disease. But with the National Institute of Mental Health
estimating that nearly 6 million U.S. men have depression each year, it’s clear
this mental health condition has no gender bias.
Still, research shows that
males are less likely to open up about depression - or seek treatment - than
their female counterparts. This disparity may be based on the “tough guy”
mentality, an idea among some men that depression is a weakness. One study from
the University of Akron found that a man was less likely to see a therapist for
depression if he agreed with “traditional” gender roles, ones like “men can
handle whatever comes their way.”
Depression is not a sign
of emotional weakness or failing of masculinity. It is a treatable health
condition that affects millions of men of all ages and backgrounds, as well as
those who care about them—spouses, partners, friends, and family. It can also
lead to heart disease and other serious medical problems. Of course, it’s
normal for anyone to feel down from time to time—dips in mood are an ordinary reaction
to losses, setbacks, and disappointments in life. However, if intense feelings
of despair and hopelessness take hold of you, and interfere with work, family,
and your ability to enjoy life, you may be suffering from depression.
Unfortunately, depression
in men can often be overlooked as many of us find it difficult to talk about
our feelings. Instead, we tend to focus on the physical symptoms that often
accompany depression, such as back pain, headaches, difficulty sleeping, or
sexual problems. This can result in the underlying depression going untreated,
which can have serious consequences. In fact, men suffering from depression are
four times more likely to commit suicide than women. It’s important for any man
to seek help with depression before feelings of despair become feelings of
suicide. You need to talk honestly with a friend, loved one, or doctor about
what’s going on in your mind as well as your body. Once correctly diagnosed,
there is plenty you can do to successfully treat and manage depression.
Male Depression through the lifespan
Male depression is being
increasingly recognized in boys and adolescents. Before the age of 14,
depression is diagnosed as frequently in boys as in girls. Research shows that
depression is occurring earlier today than in the past. If untreated,
depression in youth can lead to more serious depression as an adult. Adolescent
male depression also carries higher risks for suicide and substance abuse.
Symptoms can include frequent illness, disruptive behavior, mood swings, and
trouble at school.
Depression impacts older people differently than younger people. In the
elderly, depression often occurs with other medical illnesses and disabilities
and lasts longer.
Depression in the elderly often increases their risk of cardiac diseases.
Depression doubles an elderly person's risk of cardiac diseases and increases
their risk of death from illness. At the same time, depression reduces an
elderly person's ability to rehabilitate. Studies of nursing home patients with
physical illnesses have shown that the presence of depression substantially
increases the likelihood of death from those illnesses. Depression also has
been associated with increased risk of death following a heart attack. For that
reason, making sure that an elderly person you are concerned about is evaluated
and treated is important, even if the depression is mild.
Depression also increases the risk of suicide, especially elderly white
men. The suicide rate in people ages 80 to 84 is more than twice that of the
general population. The National Institute of Mental Health considers
depression in people age 65 and older to be a major public health problem.
In addition, advancing age is often accompanied by loss of social support
systems due to the death of a spouse or siblings, retirement, or relocation of
residence. Because of changes in an elderly person's circumstances and the fact
that elderly people are expected to slow down, doctors and family may miss the
signs of depression. As a result, effective treatment often gets delayed,
forcing many elderly people unnecessarily struggle with depression.
Men can experience
depression in different ways to women. You may develop the standard symptoms of
depression and become sad and withdrawn, losing interest in friends and
activities you used to enjoy. Or you may become irritable and aggressive,
compulsively working, drinking more than normal, and engaging in high risk
activities.
Unfortunately, men are far
less adept at recognizing their symptoms than women. A man is more likely to
deny his feelings, hide them from himself and others, or try to mask them with
other behaviors. The three most common signs of depression in men are:
- Physical
pain. Sometimes
depression in men shows up as physical symptoms—such as backache, frequent
headaches, sleep problems, sexual dysfunction, or digestive disorders—that
don’t respond to normal treatment.
- Anger. This could range from irritability,
sensitivity to criticism, or a loss of your sense of humor to road rage, a
short temper, or even violence. Some men become abusive, controlling,
verbally or physically abusive to wives, children, or other loved ones.
- Reckless behavior. A man suffering from depression may start exhibiting escapist or risky behavior. This could mean pursuing dangerous sports, driving recklessly, or engaging in unsafe sex. You might drink too much, abuse drugs, or gamble compulsively.
Differences
between male and female depression
Let’s
compare how depression in men appears differently than depression in women:
Women with
depression tend to:
- Blame
themselves
- Feel
sad, apathetic, and worthless
- Feel
anxious and scared
- Avoid
conflicts at all costs
- Feel
slowed down and nervous
- Have
trouble setting boundaries
- Find
it easy to talk about self-doubt and despair
- Use food, friends, and "love" to self-medicate
Men with
depression tend to:
- Blame
others
- Feel
angry, irritable, and ego inflated
- Feel
suspicious and guarded
- Create
conflicts
- Feel
restless and agitated
- Need
to feel in control at all costs
- Find
it “weak” to admit self-doubt or despair
- Use alcohol, TV, sports, and sex to self-medicate
There’s no single cause of
depression in men. Biological, psychological, and social factors all play a
part, as do lifestyle choices, relationships, and coping skills. Stressful life
events or anything that makes you feel useless, helpless, alone, profoundly
sad, or overwhelmed by stress can also trigger depression in men. These could
include:
- Overwhelming stress at work, school, or home
- Marital or relationship problems
- Not reaching important goals
- Losing or changing a job; embarking on military
service
- Constant money problems
- Health problems such as chronic illness,
injury, disability
- Recently quitting smoking
- Death of a loved one
- Family responsibilities such as caring for
children, spouse, or aging parents
- Retirement; loss of independence
Risk factors for depression in men
While any man can suffer
from depression, there are some risk factors that make a man more vulnerable to
the illness, such us:
- Loneliness and lack of social support, being single, unmarried,
divorced, or widowed.
- Physical conditions like
stroke, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, cancer, dementia, and
chronic pain further increase the risk of depression.
- Inability to effectively deal with stress.
- Family history of major
depressive disorder.
- A history of alcohol or drug abuse.
- Fear of death.
- Early childhood trauma or abuse
- Aging in isolation, with few social outlets
Don't try to tough out
depression on your own. It takes courage to seek help, but most men with
depression respond well to treatments such as lifestyle changes, social
support, therapy, or medication—or a combination of treatments.
The first step is to talk
to your doctor. Be open about how you’re feeling as well as the physical
symptoms you’re experiencing so your mental health specialist can make an
accurate diagnosis.
- Therapy. You may feel that talking to a stranger about
your problems is ‘unmanly,’ or that therapy carries with it a victim
status. However, if therapy is available to you, it can be an extremely
effective treatment for depression in men. Opening up to a therapist can
often bring a swift sense of relief, even to the most skeptical male.
- Medication. Antidepressant medication may help relieve
some symptoms of depression, but doesn’t cure the underlying problem, and
is rarely a long-term solution. Medication also comes with side
effects. Don't rely on a doctor who is not trained in mental health for
guidance on medication, and always pursue healthy lifestyle changes and
social support as well.
- Lifestyle changes to treat
depression in men
Lifestyle changes are extremely effective tools at treating depression in
men. Even if you need other treatments as well, lifestyle changes can help lift
depression and keep it from coming back.
·
Exercise regularly. Regular exercise is a powerful way to fight
depression in men. Not only does it boost serotonin, endorphins, and other
feel-good brain chemicals, it triggers the growth of new brain cells and
connections, just as antidepressants do. It also boosts self-esteem and helps
to improve sleep. For maximum results, aim for 30 to 60 minutes of activity on
most days.
·
Eat well. Eating small, well-balanced meals throughout the
day will help you keep your energy up and minimize mood swings. While you may
be drawn to sugary foods for the quick boost they provide, complex
carbohydrates are a better choice. They'll get you going without the sugar
crash. Deficiencies in B vitamins can trigger depression so take a B-complex
vitamin supplement or eat more citrus fruit, leafy greens, beans, chicken, and
eggs. Foods rich in certain omega-3 fats—such as salmon, walnuts, soybeans, and
flaxseeds—can also give your mood a boost.
·
Get enough sleep. When you don't get enough sleep, your depression
symptoms can be worse. Sleep deprivation exacerbates anger, irritability, and
moodiness. Aim for somewhere between 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night.
·
Reduce stress. Make changes in your life to help manage and
reduce stress. Too much stress exacerbates depression and puts you at risk for
future depression. Set realistic goals and break them down into manageable
tasks rather than burden yourself with huge objectives all at once. Figure out
the things in your life that stress you out, such as work overload or
unsupportive relationships, and make a plan to avoid them or minimize their
impact.
If you want to know more
about depression and how to deal with it, feel free to browse my other blog,
devoted entirely to the depression: http://depressivedisorder.blogspot.com/.
Sources and Additional Reading:
