Do men suffer from depression as well?
Depression is a modern world’s disease that has always been misinterpreted and sometimes taken quiet lightly. Known as just a mood swing or low on life phase, Depression on the contrary, it is more than just a feeling of despair. Depression occurs in men just as it occurs among women, but the difference is that men are too macho to talk of it.
Men and depression are nothing new and has been there for quite a long, in fact one of the major factor causing depression is work pressure which is experienced more by men than their opposite sex members. So far, there has been found no difference in clinical depression among men and women, but what differentiates them is their reaction to it. While women are more prone to go emotionally unstable, cry out loud and ask for help, on the other hand men do not talk openly, they find refuge in alcohol, smoking and drugs, they go aggressive, develop bad temper and are more physical in every aspect, such as they tend to pick fights or hit others.
Depression is a disorder that affects everyone in the same way initiated by the same reasons. Factors causing depression in men are almost similar to those affecting women. Although, men do not go through the biological factors of depression like PMS or the postpartum depression, but they do suffer from depression unique to them, such as sexual problems, issues over physical act of love and other pride related issues.
When men are under depression whether it’s the work related pressure, relationship issues, bad marriage, financial trouble, divorce, death of he partner or physical problem, the behavior change is different from what it is seen in women. Some of the common signs of depression shown by men are spending most of their time either playing cards, drinking all night in a bar, sleeping with a stranger, cheating on their partner, crying in the bathroom, throwing food in anger, lack of sleep, walking across the room in fast pace, weight gain or loss, appetite change, inability to make decision, difficulty in concentrating, bad driving, increase of verbal abuse, irritability, constant headaches, digestive problems, blood pressure related problems, rapid mood swings and doing things in fit of rage.
Fact that men are prone to killing themselves makes their depression more unsafe as compared to depression among women.
Treatment for depression among men is same as to the one used for curing women i.e. communication, spending time with friends and family, sharing the thoughts, indulging in activities and hobbies to stay busy, discussing with people for suggestions and advice, taking profession help from psychologists or psychotherapists and medications like anti depressants.
No matter what is the reason behind a depression suffered by men, the only thing that matters is the need to accept it and to seek help. Men do get sad and depressed, but not many of them speak out loud about it.
