Men Get Depressed, Too

By Leslie Davis

It’s a common misconception that men don’t suffer from depression. In fact, an estimated 6 million men suffer from depression each year. And though a significant number of men deal with the symptoms of the disorder, they are much less likely than women to seek treatment for the depression itself.

“Men don’t find it easy to ask for help,” Thomas Insel, MD, director of the National Institute of Mental Health, said in a Reader’s Digest article by Susan Freinkel. “That’s a gene that must be on the Y chromosome.”

Whether the result of genetics or societal pressures, many men are unwilling to admit that they are feeling sad or depressed. It is more likely that, even if they do exhibit symptoms of depression, men will hide them or brush them off when they shouldn’t, resulting in more advanced depression, problems with substance abuse and a higher risk of suicide.

Symptoms of Depression in Men

Though both genders are susceptible to depression, the disorder does not show up the same in males as it does in females.

“Our take on why men show up less depressed is that men are not likely to show typical depression symptoms like crying, sadness, loss of will, verbalization of suicide intent,” Fred Rabinowitz, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Redlands in Redlands, Calif., said in a Jan. 9 article on HealthyPlace.com. “Instead, men are likely to keep it hidden, like they do most of the time with most feelings. Thus, others are unable to tell if a man is depressed or not.”

According to the website Uplift Program.com, symptoms of depression in males include the following:

• Anger and irritability
• Restlessness and agitation
• A tendency to blame others
• Compulsiveness
• Fatigue
• Becoming controlling
• Feeling shame
• Fear of failure
• Creating conflict
• Feeling suspicious and guarded
• Self-medicating through alcohol
• Loss of interest in work or hobbies

Triggers for Male Depression

Depression doesn’t just come out of nowhere, even if there is a family history of the disorder. In most instances, depression is triggered by one of several things:

• A divorce or separation
• Marital problems
• Death of a family member or friend
• Serious physical illness, such as cancer or heart disease
• Unemployment or retirement
• Post-partum depression (yes, even men can experience this)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Stressful life changes

Increased Risk of Substance Abuse, Suicide

Because men are less likely to be diagnosed with depression, seek treatment for their depression or even admit they have symptoms of depression, they put themselves at increased risk for substance abuse and suicide.

Substance abuse is common in men who suffer from depression. It is unclear whether a drug or alcohol addiction is symptomatic of depression or a co-occurring disorder. In any case, substance abuse can hide symptoms of depression, making it harder to recognize and diagnose.

Given the statistic that men are four times more likely to commit suicide than women, and that suicide is often associated with depression, a correlation can be made between a higher rate of suicide in depressed men who are less likely to be diagnosed or seek treatment.

Treating Male Depression

Men who don’t feel comfortable discussing their depression are unlikely to feel comfortable seeking depression treatment.

“[Depression treatment] involves verbalizing emotions and talking about problems, which is more common for women to do with same-gender friends,” Rabinowitz said. “On the other hand, boys and men tend to be less verbal and more uncomfortable in deep relationships.”

But if you have depression, talking about your symptoms and what is causing them are of utmost importance. Remember that depression is caused by chemical changes in the brain, and has nothing to do with your masculinity. These chemical changes can be altered through medication and talk therapy.

Symptoms of depression can be treated. Even if you are unsure if what you are experiencing is due to depression, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional so you can be properly diagnosed. The only thing holding you back from curing your depression is you.