Both males and females can experience depression, but the signs and symptoms can be different. Males my also be less likely to seek a diagnosis for depression.
While depression is commonly associated with feelings of sadness, men may experience it differently than women. Research suggests that men are more likely to exhibit anger, display aggressive behavior, or turn to substance abuse as a response to depression, rather than expressing sadness.
These differing symptoms, combined with the fact that men are generally less likely to openly discuss their emotions or seek help for mental health issues, mean that depression in men often goes undiagnosed. This lack of diagnosis and treatment can have serious consequences for their overall well-being.
In this article, we delve into the emotional, behavioral, and physical signs of depression in men. We also provide guidance on how to seek help and manage the condition effectively. Continue reading to better understand how to recognize depression in men and take steps toward addressing it.
Depression is a prevalent issue among men. According to the American Psychological Association, approximately 9% of men in the United States experience daily feelings of depression or anxiety, and around 30.6% of men will go through a depressive episode at some point in their lives.
Depression is a mood disorder that impacts a person’s thoughts, emotions, physical health, and behavior. It is often referred to by healthcare professionals as major depression, major depressive disorder, or clinical depression.
While depression is more commonly diagnosed in women—affecting 10.4% of women compared to 5.5% of men in the U.S.—men are four times more likely to die by suicide. This disparity may be partly due to the fact that men are less likely to seek help or receive a diagnosis for depression, even though it is a major risk factor for suicide.
Understanding how depression manifests differently in men and women is crucial. It can help individuals recognize the signs of depression in themselves or their loved ones, paving the way for timely intervention and recovery. Recognizing the symptoms is the first step toward healing and seeking the necessary support.
Some symptoms of depression are the same for men and women. These include:
- feeling sad, tearful, low, guilty, or empty
- losing enjoyment in pleasurable activities
- appetite or weight changes
- too little or too much sleep
- feeling agitated or tired
- having trouble concentrating
Not everyone with depression will experience all of these symptoms.
Some symptoms of depression are more likely to affect men than women, which could be due to genetic, hormonal, biochemical, or social factors. We look at depression in men in more detail below.
The behavioral symptoms of depression often present differently in men compared to women. For example, men with depression are more likely than women to turn to alcohol or drug use as a coping mechanism. Additionally, men are more prone to exhibiting sudden outbursts of anger and engaging in risky or impulsive behaviorsMen with depression may notice the following behavioral changes:
- drinking more or taking drugs
- avoiding family or social situations
- working obsessively without taking proper breaks
- finding it hard to keep up with work or family responsibilities
- becoming more controlling or abusive in relationships
- engaging in risk-taking behavior, such as gambling or unsafe sex
- attempting suicide
Men with depression may also lose interest in their hobbies and passions or feel less motivated to succeed at work.
Depression may affect a man’s sex drive too. Men with depression may have less interest in having sex and might have trouble with sexual performance.
Depression is a mental health condition, but it also has physical symptoms. Men with depression may experience:
Some of these symptoms may arise because of the effect that depression has on a person’s brain chemicals. Depression changes the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, which are brain messengers that govern pain and mood. Shared brain cell pathways may link depression and pain.
Depression is a mental health condition, but it also has physical symptoms. Men with depression may experience:
Some of these symptoms may arise because of the effect that depression has on a person’s brain chemicals. Depression changes the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, which are brain messengers that govern pain and mood. Shared brain cell pathways may link depression and pain.
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