Recognizing depression in men

Recognizing depression in men

Men are often thought of as strong and silent.  Viewed as resilient and able to handle most situations, men can and do get depressed. But depression in men often goes unrecognized.  Men tend to deny if anything is wrong and rarely get emotional. When depression strikes a man, even he himself may not recognize it.  He may notice he is feeling more tired or irritable, or he may have lost interest in his job or hobbies.  Sleep difficulties and feelings of anger, sadness, or worthlessness may have become more common over the past weeks or months.  But men may not necessarily associate these occurrences with depression.

For men, they often have a more difficult time recognizing or admitting they have depression. Instead, men tend to resort to more unhealthy coping mechanisms to deal with it pushing the real reason of how they feel under the rug.  They may exhibit depression by being more irritable, isolated or withdrawn.  Work hours may extend much longer than usual or they may resort to using alcohol as a method of managing it.

What is for sure is depression in men often goes undiagnosed that can result in calamitous consequences when it is not treated. 

Signs and symptoms of depression in men

The differences of depression in men and women are quite noticeable.  Women are more likely to show signs of depression with feelings of sadness, hopelessness or an empty feeling.  Women may also have extreme fatigue and difficulty sleeping.  A lot of these differences lie in various factors including brain chemistry, hormones and life experiences.

For men, signs of depression can include the following:

·      Escaping from the depression by spending more time at work or playing sports

·      Using alcohol or illegal drugs to cope

·      Showing controlling, violent, or abusive behavior

·      More irritability or inappropriate anger

·      Risky behavior

·      Thought of suicide or suicide attempts

·      Aches, pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive issues

·      Inability to meet the responsibilities of work, caring for family, or other important activities

·      Overeating, or not eating at all

·      Feeling very tired

·      Loss of interest in work, family, or once-pleasurable activities such as sex

·      Feeling hopeless, irritable, anxious, or angry

Men will most likely always downplay what is really bothering them.  They may not want to admit to themselves or anyone else that they are depressed.  By ignoring or masking their depression they may feel no one else will ever know the truth.  Men also have a more difficult time in discussing their feelings.  They like to be in control and feel that it is not manly to express emotions associated with depression.  By not getting a diagnosis, men may reason that they can avoid treatment and not have to deal with the stigma a depression diagnosis has.

Asking for help

Often the hardest part of treating depression in men is getting them to admit they have a problem.  Once they get past opening up and seeking help, it can be like unleashing a bad weight around their neck that kept them from ever being free of depression’s grip. 

Treatment should be with either a doctor or mental health professional helping men learn healthy coping skills.  These skills can include:

·      Setting realistic goals and prioritizing tasks

·      Seeking emotional support from family and friends

·      Learns new ways to manage stress such as meditation and developing problem-solving skills

·      Not making life-changing decisions until the depression is under better control

·      Figuring out and finding activities he enjoys and that bring him satisfaction and fun

·      Leading a more healthy lifestyle by eating healthier, regular physical exercise and adequate sleep

·      Knowing where to turn to if he has suicidal thoughts:

·      Reaching out to someone they trust to talk about their feelings

·      Contacting a minister or someone in his faith community

·      Joining a men’s health group dealing with depression

·      Calling a suicide crisis center hotline

·      Discussing his thoughts of suicide with his doctor or mental health professional