Subtle signs of depression in men

Men Isolate Themselves When they are Depressed

People often pity women and men are almost totally ignored in this process. C’mon folks, men too are humans who have a heart and ache for love, affection and warmth. We often correlate depression with women and men don’t stand a chance in this process. Sadly, for men, most mental signs are not so dramatic as that of women when it comes to depression and also our society functions on the ideology that men should be able to handle the mightiest of the problem because of the ‘testosterone’ effect.

The ‘Mars’ Effect
Men and women handle and express depression differently. While depressions faced by women are apparent, it is not in the case of men. It manifests in the form of tiredness, irritability, uninterest in work, family or hobbies and sleeping difficulties. While depressed women may attempt suicide, men are more likely to die by suicide. Despite all these, most men don’t seek help for depression as they feel reluctant and shy to disclose such a problem. But, depression is a serious problem that can affect a man at any age. At the same time, it is a real and treatable illness.

Most Common Depression Forms that Affect Men

1. Major depression: This occurs only once in a person’s lifetime, but the individual faces several episodes of it when the depression strikes him/her. The symptoms are so strong that it affects even daily activities such as sleep, work, eating, studying and social movement.
2. Dysthymic disorder: Men experience depression symptoms for more than 2 years, but the severity of the symptoms is not much as in the case of major depression.
3. Minor depression: These occur in the same lines of major depression and dysthymia with minimal symptoms and duration.
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Symptoms/Signs
Individuals express differently and show different signs. Common among them include:

1. Constant state of sadness or loneliness
2. Tiredness and fatigue
3. Disinterest in work, family or anything that once used to be pleasurable, including sex
4. Poor memory or concentration ability
5. Too much of anything or too little of the same thing such as eating and sleeping
6. Suicidal thoughts and attempts
7. Aches, pains, headaches, cramps and digestive problems
8. Inability to fulfill responsibilities from the family or work perspective
9. Always irritated, hopeless, anxious or angry
10. Pains, aches, headaches and digestive problems
    
    

​One or many factors act together to cause depression. Genes, hormones or stress are the major contributing factors of depression. Especially the loss of a loved one, a strained relationship or a stressful situation can trigger depression in some men. Combat stress practically with the help of tips from the website www.firsteatright.com. 

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​Treatment
The moment you realize that you are succumbing to depression, it is advisable to meet your physician and explain all your symptoms, their duration, when they started, the medications you take for other health problems and how long you have been feeling depressed. Doctor might suggest antidepressants or advise you to take a few therapy sessions to solve your problem. Individuals put on antidepressants must be monitored closely as an antidepressant can have side effects such as headache, nausea, sexual problems, agitation, nervousness and sleeping difficulties. The person on these medications might also feel suicidal at the start of these medications and hence, must never be left unattended. One thing to remember is that the advantages of using medications far outweigh the disadvantages of the same.

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