In their everyday lives, people deal with many different feelings, that can affect their mood and therefore their productiveness and well being. They may sometimes feel sad or miserable, pessimistic or discouraged. These unpleasant feelings are something normal as long as they don’t last more than normal and don’t interfere with their lives.
When we talk about depression, we refer to a mental condition that can insist more than a few days, even months. Moreover, they can interfere and affect people lives and adjustment.
But does depression appear at the same level in both genders? The answer is no.
Depression and Gender
Many international researches and statistics have shown that women are more vulnerable in depression. The prevalence of depression, depending on DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, is present at all ages and on a significantly higher level on women.
Αt times, this difference has been explained through biological, sociocultural psychological reasons. Also, the society expectations play an important role on building this difference between men and women, as women have also to undertake many different roles.
But what happens with men? The truth is that men who present signs of depression are less likely to talk to someone when they need help. This partially explains the fact that women percentages appear higher. Men tend to express these feelings with more stoicism, anger or misuse, as they are less likely to express them. This is a major issue when it has to do with depression, because many of the feelings remain hidden, making it difficult to define the problem and its causes, and resulting to plack of help.
In the modern society, not only women but men are brought up with gender stereotypes. This can begin at a very young age, when boys are told to behave “like men”. Even in the family environment the behavior can be characterized “girlish” or “boyish”. This way, girls appear to express their feelings more and be more sensitive. However this behavior isn’t acceptable at men from a very young age causing a feeling of guilt, which itself can lead to feelings of anxiety and so to depression.
Causes
There are many factors and causes that can lead to feelings of depression. When it comes to their everyday feelings, people sometimes are aware of these factors and sometimes not. However, they can be caused by a variety of reasons that are different from person to person. Some of the causes include:
Circumstances
Events and things that happen in our lives
Crisis (can appear in a transiest state)
Physical illness or physical condition
Personal characteristics
Alcohol
Genes
Gender
7 signs of depression in men
There are many signs and symptoms that reveal depression in men. These are the most important:
Changes in the mood / Irritation
Negative feelings become more intense than normal when people are clinically depressed.
When a bad or unexpected event happens to someone, it is followed by an emotional reaction. In depression, these reactions may last longer than usual and be more severe. Also, the person may be depressed for a long time and won’t be able to define the exact reason. Most will feel unhappy all of the time, discouraged, hopeless and inadequate. Another sign of depression is the irritable behavior.
Men tend to become easily angry at things and aiming them as the cause of their irritation.Fatigue
Depression may be followed by fatigue and sleep issues. This includes issues on falling asleep, waking up in the middle of the night or really early in the morning. Also, the person may feel fatigue and exhaustion throughout the day.Losing interest in sex
One of the earliest signs of depression is a decreased libido and desire for sex. This fall becomes greater especially when a person uses antidepressants as a treatment therapy, leading to lower testosterone levels and maybe delayed ejaculation.Physical effects
Depression usually presents physical effects too. That may be weight loss, loss of appetite, headaches, backaches and stomachaches.Difficulty concentrating
The psychological effects of depression may slow down the ability to process information and concentrate on work or tasks. Also, the attention may be easily distracted from thoughts, making it harder to focus on a thing.Substance abuse
A very common sign of depression is a turn to substance. That may be alcohol and drugs. This is not only a way to deal with lack of control over the excessive thoughts, but creates a delusive sense of good mood, which is the reason that a depressed person becomes vulnerable to addiction.Suicidal Thoughts
The most important impact of depression is the suicidal thoughts. As the bad mood increases, the person will deal with more problems in the daily life, and feel more inadequate. This puts them in a vicious circle and leading to wonder the purpose of life. This is dangerous because it can lead a person to start thinking of ending their life so he will be released from all these feelings.
Seeking help
Talking about the situation in a close friend may be some kind of release, but talking with an expert is necessary. When the symptoms don’t get any better and last longer than 2 weeks, or affect the work and more important producing suicidal thoughts, the person has to turn to a psychologist. This is a very important step on accepting the problem and deal with it.
Men usually interpret depression as a weakness, that conflicts with their ideals and making them unable to detect that a clinical issue is present. This is very dangerous, because it can lead to self harm and even suicide!
Not only women, but men should be more and more encouraged to talk about their feelings too. People should not stuck with some kind of stereotypes and ideals. When it comes to a matter of health and well being, everyone should go on, accept the situation and seek for an immediate solution.