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Depression is one word that is often associated with women. Although the numbers are more in favour of women, depression affects men equally. It has been seen that men experience depression differently than women and it often goes undiagnosed. Movember/ No-shave November is dedicated to addressing problems that affect men and this is one topic we would like to create awareness about…
What do we know about Depression?
Depression is a serious and pervasive mood disorder that causes feelings of sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, and worthlessness. Depression can be mild to moderate with symptoms of apathy, little appetite, difficulty sleeping, low self-esteem, and low-grade fatigue. Or it can be major depression, with symptoms of depressed mood most of the day, diminished interest in daily activities, weight loss or gain, insomnia or hypersomnia (sleeping too much), fatigue, feelings of guilt almost daily, and recurring thoughts of death or suicide.
When a man has depression, he has trouble with daily life and loses interest in anything for weeks at a time. Men may be more likely to feel very tired and irritable, and lose interest in their work, family, or hobbies. They may be more likely to have difficulty sleeping than women who have depression. And although women with depression are more likely to attempt suicide, men are more likely to die by suicide.
Many men do not recognize, acknowledge, or seek help for their depression. They may be reluctant to talk about how they are feeling. But depression is a real and treatable illness. It can affect any man at any age. With the right treatment, most men with depression can get better and gain back their interest in work, family, and hobbies.
How Common Is Depression in Men?
Although men don’t commonly recognize or acknowledge their own symptoms of depression, there are several million men in the world suffering from clinical depression each year. Depression was once thought of as a “woman’s disease” and linked to hormones and premenstrual syndrome. This stereotypical view still lingers and may be what keeps men with depression from recognizing it and seeking appropriate treatment.
What are the different forms of depression?
The most common types of depression are:
- Major depression – severe symptoms that interfere with a man’s ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy most aspects of life. An episode of major depression may occur only once in a person’s lifetime. But more often, a person can have several episodes.
- Dysthymic disorder, or dysthymia – depressive symptoms that last a long time (2 years or longer) but are less severe than those of major depression.
- Minor depression – similar to major depression and dysthymia, but symptoms are less severe and may not last as long.
What are the signs and symptoms of depression in men?
Different people have different symptoms. Some symptoms of depression include:
- Feeling sad or “empty”
- Loss of interest in work, family, or once-pleasurable activities, including sex
- Feeling hopeless, irritable, anxious, or angry
- Not being able to concentrate or remember details
- Overeating, or not wanting to eat at all
- Fatigue
- Not being able to sleep, or sleeping too much
- Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts
- Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems
- Inability to meet the responsibilities of work, caring for family, or other important activities.
What causes depression in men?
Several factors may contribute to depression in men.
- Genes – men with a family history of depression may be more likely to develop it than those whose family members do not have the illness.
- Brain chemistry and hormones – the brains of people with depression look different on scans than those of people without the illness. Also, the hormones that control emotions and mood can affect brain chemistry.
- Stress – loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship or any stressful situation may trigger depression in some men.
- Most of the time, it is likely a combination of these factors.
How is depression treated?
The first step to get yourself treated is to visit a doctor or mental health professional. Once an exam or lab tests are done to rule out other conditions (that may have the same symptoms as depression), he or she can also tell if certain medications you are taking may be affecting your mood. It is essential that the doctor gets a complete history of symptoms to provide proper prognosis and treatment.
Medication
Medications called antidepressants can work well to treat depression. But they can take several weeks to work.
Therapy
Several types of therapy can help treat depression. Some therapies are just as effective as medications for certain types of depression. Therapy helps by teaching new ways of thinking and behaving, and changing habits that may be contributing to the depression. Therapy can also help men understand and work through difficult situations or relationships that may be causing their depression or making it worse.
How different is depression in men and women?
- Men and women might respond differently to antidepressants.
- Men are more likely to commit suicide and die.
- Men’s symptoms of depression may be harder for others to recognize.
- Men with depression are more likely to abuse alcohol and other substances.
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by Hridya Anand
A biochemist by education who could never put what she studied to good use, finally found GetDoc as a medium to do what she loved - bring information to people using a forum that is dedicated to all things medical. View all articles by Hridya Anand.
