It is imperative to understand that the symptoms of depression are not always similar in men and women. Both may experience different signs of depression which depends on their physical conditions, environment and personal experiences. Here I am putting down few points to understand Depression in men. Depression is a severe medical state that upsets the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects everything from eating to sleeping to working. It affects how one thinks about things and one’s self-perception. Men or Women can’t get back to normal all by themselves. Without treatment, symptoms of depression can last for weeks, months, years and in some extreme cases for a lifetime too (such people who cannot overcome depression for long usually give up. My endeavor is to aware such people of Depression and help them abstain from such thoughts and take up life in an entirely new perspective.
Scientific research has also revealed that Depression can be treated. The knowledge of depression and will to overcome it is a must. So, get ready to win. Be a winner, if at all you have to lose something, let it be depression.
Types of Depression in Men
The types of depression found in men are similar to those in women. They may include the following:
- Major depression (also known as clinical depression, unipolar depression, or major depressive disorder)
- Bipolar depression (also known as manic depression)
- Dysthymia.
These types vary from one another in their severity, the number of existent symptoms and how for what period the depression lasts in a n individual.
Symptoms of Depression in Men
Fatigue or Lethargy
Depressed men go through a chain of physical and emotional fluctuations. They can experience exhaustion, as well as psychomotor obstructions, or a decelerating physical movements, speech, and thought processes. Men are more likely than women to complain fatigue and other bodily symptoms of depression as their primary complaints.
Sleeping too much or too little
Insomnia (lack of natural sleep), waking up very early in the morning, or sleeping too much are common depression symptoms.
It happens at times that besides sleeping for 12-14 hours a day people still feel exhausted or wake up after every couple of hours for no reasons. This is routine with depressed individuals. As per experts, men may seek expert advice regarding loss or excess of sleep
Stomach or back problems
Health disorders such as constipation or diarrhea, as well as headaches and back pain, are common in people who are depressed.
This is sad that men don’t realize often that chronic pain and digestive disorders are a common part of depression, Specialists opine that people who are depressed do genuinely feel bad physically. “It is s medical Disorder for sure” – believes experts.
Irritability
Men exhibit signs of irritability during depression, negative thoughts are a common aspect of depression and these thoughts when continuously hover around, it results in irritability.
Difficulty in focusing
This ailment can result in slowing down of a man’s ability to process information, thereby impairing his concentration on work or other tasks.
“Depression fills one with negative thoughts, there is very less room for thinking about other things. It forces you to think about negativity all the time. As a result, it makes focusing very difficult.
Indecision
Men (or women) suffering from depression can’t put their thoughts together easily. They might take a long pause between sentences, suddenly change the topic during a conversation or talk senseless. This indicates that such a person has difficulty in processing the information he gathers and impair him from making decisions.
Resentment or aggression
Some men exhibit depression by being aggressive or angry. Experts say “A man who recognizes something is incorrect may need to compensate by indicating that he is still strong or accomplished”. It is to be understood that there is a thin line between aggression (anger) and irritability, but they are different. Anger is a stronger emotion.
Stress
Stress is a more common and acceptable word. Men suffering from depression may report being under stress, rather than accepting that it may symptoms of depression which are being observed on daily basis by them. The key is to be open minded to accept the facts and get treated.
Research has proved that elongated exposure to stress can lead to changes both in the body and brain, which can finally lead to depression.
Substance abuse
Depression is generally accompanied by substance abuse. Research has revealed that men with drinking habits are twice as likely to suffer from major depression as people without a drinking habit.
This is an easy way out, as many men (or women) believe it’s comfortable to be un-naturally high and snub their actual disorder. Most of the times when a person decides to treat himself; it happens that he finds him in a condition worse than before, this happens because treatment of such disorders needs appropriate attention, not just your own comfortable curing techniques.
Sexual dysfunction
This is one symptom that not many men would like to report. Depression is a common reason for loss of sexual desire and erectile dysfunction. A man is always under pressure of performing and when he fails to do so due to depression, the things get worse. It’s always good to discuss such symptoms frankly with your physician. Though not restricted to Depression, Erectile Dysfunction may be due to several other reasons. So speak to your doctor, he will help you figure out the reasons.
Depression can’t be attributed to a single symptom; it is a combination of few of them.
Suicidal thoughts
Women are more likely to attempt suicide, but men are more than four times as likely to die if they do attempt suicide. One reason is that men tend to choose more lethal methods. “They more often use firearms and kill themselves the first time they try,” Dr. Cook says.
Older men are at highest risk for suicide, and doctors may miss depression symptoms in this group. In fact, more than 70% of older suicide victims saw their primary care physician within the month of their death.
Depression is not a normal part of aging in men or women.
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