Many people, at some point in their lives, experience depression. Yet, in many cases it isn’t easy to recognise, and if left untreated can be devastating to the individual. This is especially true for men because their symptoms can be very different to what people normally associate with depression. Moreover, studies have shown that men are less likely than women to recognise, talk about, or seek treatment for depression. This why it is essential to learn about these symptoms as well as how it affects men differently than women. This will help you recognise if any mental or even physical health issues you or a loved one may be facing, is related to depression and what you can do to help.
What is Depression?
Depression is a surprisingly common but serious mood disorder that affects one’s ability to feel, think, and handle daily activities in a proper manner. While everyone can feel sad, be irritable, or show other symptoms of depression once in a while, these usually pass in a couple of days and aren’t too serious. For someone to be classified as suffering from a major depressive disorder or clinical depression, they must be suffering from such symptoms for at least two weeks.
Common Symptoms
A person suffering from depression will not necessarily experience every symptom and they can vary greatly from person to person. Here are some of the most common signs of depression, especially in men:
- Quick to anger, irritability, or aggressiveness
- Feelings of anxiousness, restlessness, or feeling of being “on the edge”
- Feelings of sadness or hopelessness
- Trouble with concentration and memory
- Loss of interest in work, family, or activities they once enjoyed
- Inability keep up with responsibilities, be it professional, familial, or other important activities
- Becoming more withdrawn and isolated
- Problems with sexual desire and performance
- Tiredness, trouble sleeping, or oversleeping
- Problems with overeating or not wanting to eat at all
- Physical aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems
- Suicidal thoughts or actions
- Engaging in high-risk activities
- A compulsion to consume alcohol or drugs
Difference in Symptoms Between Men and Women
Taken globally, more women experience depression on average than men. The reason for this discrepancy could be the differences in what triggers the depression. Women seem to be more likely to be affected by sensitive to interpersonal relationship issues and can also be adversely affected by the hormonal changes they go through during their lives, while men seem to be more affected by situations related to their careers and goals.
Furthermore, while the majority of symptoms are common between both genders, the way in which depression affects men and women and the way in which they react to is can vary greatly. For example, while women are more expressive in their sadness and are more willing to talk about their feelings, men with depression have a tendency to hide their emotions and may instead seem to get more angry, irritable, or aggressive for seemingly no reason. Many men are also more likely to seek help from doctors about the physical symptoms resulting from depression as opposed to their emotional symptoms.
Men with depression may also more prone to feeling very tired and lose interest in work, family, or hobbies, and are more likely to have difficulty sleeping. Conversely, women are more likely to oversleep or overeat, or suffer from an eating disorder.
While women can be far more expressive of their feelings, they are also more prone to dwell on upsetting events or situations, actively engaging in negative self-talk and self-blame. Men are unlikely to do this, and that is one reason men have been shown to get past stressful events more easily. Furthermore, this could also be a contributing factor for why women with depression are more likely to attempt suicide than men. However, studies have also shown that men are more likely to die by suicide because they tend to use more lethal methods.
Helping a Loved One
Understanding the differences in depression between men and women is the first step as it helps you identify if your loved one, or perhaps even yourself, may be suffering from depression. If you do have a loved one who showing signs of depression, the most important thing you can do to help is to first understand that they cannot recover from it in an instant with just a simple talk. Furthermore, if they are men, know that he may not even recognise or accept that his symptoms are that of depression and he may not be willing to get professional treatment.
Patience is key here. Listen empathetically, offer your support, and point him to information on depression symptoms in men. Even after this, some men have trouble accepting that they need help. Remember however, that they agree to seek help for physical symptoms instead, such as feeling tired or run down. Recognising these symptoms may help in convincing them to seek the help they need.
In addition, continue offering him support, understanding, patience, and encouragement throughout his treatment and listen to them carefully when talking to them. Never ever ignore comments about suicide, even if mentioned as a joke, and alert his therapist or doctor in such situations. Encourage and help him in keeping to his doctor’s appointments. Also, help him get more physically and socially active by invite him for hikes, games, and other events, making sure not to get to pushy.
Helping Yourself
What if you suffer from the symptoms of depression yourself? The first thing to do is to recognise that it is never too late and that recovery is always possible. Start spending more time with other people and open up to someone who you trust and is willing to listen. Become more physically and socially active. Try to not take on more work than you can handle. Break up larger tasks into smaller more manageable ones and take your time with them. Also, wherever possible, avoid making any important decisions in your current state, delaying them till you are feeling better. If you have to make them immediately, don’t take on the pressure alone and discuss it with others who you trust. Establishing daily routines for your day-to-day activities will also help you greatly. Lastly, but also most important, avoid any alcohol and drugs not prescribed by your doctor.
While recovery may not always be easy or fast, following these steps will greatly reduce the length of time needed for treatment.