Signs of depression in men may include irritability, angry outbursts, or physical pain. “Men with depression are more likely to try to deny feelings, trying to mask them with other behavior,” says Gregory Friccione, director of the Division of Psychiatry and Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital at Harvard University.
Signs of depression in men may include irritability, angry outbursts, or physical pain. “Men with depression are more likely to try to deny feelings, trying to mask them with other behavior,” says Gregory Friccione, director of the Division of Psychiatry and Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital at Harvard University.
Depression and cardiovascular disease
A deadly problem associated with depression is cardiovascular disease:
- Depression is a risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
- Men are especially vulnerable because they develop these diseases at a faster rate and at an earlier age than women.
Often, men's symptoms of depression differ from women's, in part due to cultural pressures on each gender to behave in a certain way. This factor may contribute to missed diagnoses.
How is depression in men different from depression in women?
Much research has focused on how depression manifests itself in men and women. Conventional wisdom holds that depression is more common in women than in men. But is this because men and their doctors don't notice unconventional symptoms?
Depression in men is fundamentally different from in women. In many ways, men have more health problems than women:
- For example, men are more likely to have heart attacks than women and are more likely to die from cancer.
- But men are half as likely to develop serious depression.
- Men are also less likely than women to develop dysthymia (chronic mild to moderate depression).
- Men are less likely to experience bipolar depression (even though the incidence of bipolar disorder is the same for both sexes).
- Women are more likely to gain weight when depressed; men are more likely to lose weight.
- Women report symptoms consistent with anxiety disorders. Men report symptoms more typical of obsessive-compulsive disorder (anxiety disorder).
- Women feel less energetic and men may feel more anxious.
- Men are also more likely than women to have heavy alcohol use or substance abuse combined with major depression.
- Because of the cultural pressure to act "manly", men are unable to show desperation or self-doubt. As a result, symptoms of depression may masquerade as anger or irritability.
- Research from the National Institute of Mental Health found that many men were unaware that physical problems such as headaches, stomach problems and chronic pain could be symptoms of depression.
- Men are also reluctant to admit to depression because they worry about how their boss, coworkers, or neighbors will react. Because of these concerns, when men develop depression, they may actually work longer—all to avoid confrontation or exposure to depressive symptoms.
It is unclear what underlies this gender difference. The leading theory is that some combination of genes, hormones and environmental stress contribute.
However, although men are less likely than women to develop depression, it remains a serious mental health problem for them. Approximately 10% to 17% of men experience depression at some point in their lives.
Moreover, depression may be more deadly for men than for women. Depression is a key risk factor for suicide. And men are 4 times more likely than women to commit suicide. One reason may be men's reluctance to express their feelings and seek help when they are desperate.
Prevention of depression
There are several methods to prevent this disorder:
- Timely treatment of hypothyroidism and other somatic disorders that can lead to depression;
- Active lifestyle;
- Smoking, drinking alcohol and other surfactants;
- Timely treatment of a traumatic situation by a psychologist;
- Sufficient amount of sleep;
- Reducing time spent on gadgets;
- Refusal of confectionery products;
- High-quality nutrition that provides a stable supply of nutrients.
People prone to depression should promptly resort to a set of preventive measures that help prevent the development of this terrible disease. Do not forget that every person needs the support of relatives: this helps to maintain a good emotional background.
- Motivation for treatment
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Home visit by a psychologist
- Beliefs about the need for treatment
- Psychological support
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- Consultation at a medical facility
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- Home visit by a psychologist
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Typical signs of depression in men
- Feeling sad or "empty".
- Feeling hopeless, irritable, anxious, or angry.
- Loss of interest in work, family, or once enjoyable activities, including sex.
- Feeling tired.
- Inability to concentrate or remember details.
- Insomnia or, conversely, too much sleep.
- Overeating or not wanting to eat at all.
- Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts.
- Physical pain, cramps, or digestive problems.
- Inability to perform work, family care, or other essential activities.
How to “unmask” the signs of depression in men
Dr. Frichione believes that in men, depression can be hidden or “masked” by various forms of behavior :
- Anger: irritability, hypersensitivity, loss of sense of humor, anger, verbal abuse of loved ones.
- Physical symptoms: lower back pain, headaches, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, stomach and digestive problems. These physical symptoms may persist despite conventional medical treatment.
- Obsessive behavior: alcohol abuse, drug abuse, compulsive gambling.
- Recklessness: Risky behavior such as reckless driving or unsafe sex.
When to ask for help?
The most important thing other people can do for a person with signs of depression is to help them see a mental health professional. Taking this first step is often the hardest. If necessary, accompany him to the appointment.
When screening for depression, specialists ask two standard questions:
- In the last two weeks, have you felt depressed or hopeless?
- During the same period, did you feel little interest or pleasure in your usual activities?
Screening may be especially important for men because they are less likely than women to raise the topic of depression themselves. Just remember that men may have other symptoms and it may be worth asking about them.
Habit of expressing feelings
Weaning a man from the habit of remaining silent and experiencing all his feelings within himself is very difficult, and sometimes impossible. It all depends on the personal characteristics of his character and desire to change. Depressive conditions are treated with medications, as well as psychotherapeutic support. The opportunity for a man to have a heart-to-heart talk with a loved one is a good prevention of a nervous breakdown and relief of tension.
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Treatment of depression
Treatment is the same for both men and women:
- The doctor may prescribe antidepressants or refer you to a psychotherapist. Both methods are about equally effective for mild to moderate depression. Severe depression usually requires mandatory medication treatment, since counseling alone may not be effective.
- If the medicine doesn't seem to be helping after a few months, your doctor may increase the dose or try a different medicine. Be sure to report any new drug side effects immediately.
- Once things start to change, don't stop taking your medications too soon. The risk of relapse is greatest in the first few months after a depressive episode. If depression returns, it will be more difficult to treat next time.
- A healthy diet and good sleep will help maintain a good mood. For people with mild depression, regular exercise can help improve sleep and increase energy as well as medications.
Drugs for treating depression:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the medications most commonly prescribed for depression. Side effects of SSRIs:
- Often weaken sexual response, delay orgasm, or lead to erectile dysfunction. These side effects may go away on their own over time. It is also possible that lowering the dose of the medication may help.
- Switching to a new drug may also make sense. Mirtazapine (Remeron) and some older antidepressants—tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors—are less likely to cause sexual side effects than SSRIs.
- If erectile dysfunction remains a problem, men may find relief with impotence medications sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), or vardenafil (Levitra). Another option is to add bupropion (Wellbutrin) to an SSRI, since this medication sometimes counteracts sexual dysfunction. induced by SSRIs, increases sexual desire and arousal and increases the intensity or duration of orgasm. Another drug, buspirone (BuSpar), can restore the ability to experience orgasm and increases libido.
Sticking to a treatment plan can be a challenge not only because medications can cause side effects and psychotherapy takes time, but also because it can be lonely. Men with depression can sometimes feel like they are alone in their struggle. Support groups and loved ones can help in this regard.
Give your partner privacy
Treatment for depression will always be a mess. It's like letting your cat trample in the paint and then run across the white sheet. It seems that your treatment plan has been worked out in detail, goals have been set, everything is neatly recorded in your observation log, and you are vigorously moving along the right path.
But one morning the patient wakes up and feels hopeless... Everything is bad, so much hard work has been done, but nothing helps, my soul is still empty and terribly sad. It would be better now to curl up into a ball of sadness and renounce the whole world.
This happens, and it’s natural. But at these moments you want to either give your patient a good kick so that he stops being sour, or completely abandon the treatment, because it does not bear fruit. Take your time, one bad day is not the end of the world. Although your love will not be the main cure for depression, it is still important for the patient, says psychotherapist Rita de Maria.
Rita de Maria
psychotherapist
Your love, your presence, your warmth are certainly needed by your partner. It won't stop depression, just as it won't, for example, lower your blood sugar or relieve arthritis pain. However, your feelings can change the “broken” processes in your partner’s head, revive his positive thoughts and increase his self-esteem during this difficult period.
Depression radically changes your normal life. What made you happy ceases to make you happy; what fascinated or interested no longer evokes even a drop of emotion. The presence of someone nearby who accepts this state without judgment or offense is very supportive and even inspiring.
