What Are Common Signs of Depression in Men?
When dealing with mental health conditions such as depression, it is important to recognize the signs early on to receive treatment early. Generally, detecting depression is rather simple when it comes to prominent symptoms: periods of intense sadness, difficulty sleeping, and increased anxiety levels. However, in many cases, men display a different range of symptoms of depression.
One of the biggest obstacles when it comes to recognizing depression in men is understanding how it manifests. Contrary to popular belief, men show different traits of being depressed than women.
Differences between depression in men and women
After hearing the term “depression,” your mind likely conjures images of sadness, unhappiness, and general melancholy. But depression does not look like that for everyone. Due to societal pressures, men usually have a much more difficult time expressing emotions than women do. This is true when it comes to depression as well.
Rather than showing signs of sadness, men tend to embrace emotions that are much more accessible to them, like anger. From a societal standpoint, it is much more acceptable for a man to be angry than to be sad. With this being said, please note that depression is not an excuse for men to be irrationally angry or upset, it is simply a possible explanation for their behavior.
Recognizing and understanding the signs
Although depression can truly look different for everyone, there are distinct differences when it comes to the way men experience and display depression. Please keep in mind this is not an exhaustive list, but rather an indicator of signs to look for when it comes to depression in men.
Some of the more common symptoms of depression in men include:
Irritability or anger: Again, due to societal standards, experiencing anger is much more accessible to men than showing signs of sadness. Instead of seeing bouts of sadness in a man with depression, you may find that they have an incredibly short fuse.
Substance abuse issues: Self-medicating is a very common method to use when it comes to treating depression. Rather than seeking out advice from the medical community, men may try to alleviate the issue themselves through abuse of alcohol or other illicit substances.
Controlling behavior: Signs of depression can sometimes appear as signs of hostility. Men usually like to stay in control, and this does not disappear when they are depressed. Attempting to control their situation is very common for depressed men to do.
Utilizing escapism tactics: It is much more acceptable for men to bury themselves in work rather than be depressed. Being a workaholic may be a sign of using it as a way to escape from your everyday life.
Getting the help you need
From a statistical standpoint, women are four percent more likely to experience depression than men. However, when it comes to seeking therapy, over 70% of clients are women, while men account for only 24% of all clients.
Receiving the help you need for whatever condition you may have does not make you weak. Recognizing that you need help and asking for it is one of the strongest things that a person can do. Struggling does not make your depression more valid, it just makes your life more difficult.
While I would strongly encourage you to seek therapy if you are interested in it, there are additional avenues you can seek to treat your depression. These include:
Exercising regularly
Practicing mindfulness or meditation
Writing in a journal
Prioritize your sleep
If you are looking to speak with a trained professional about depression treatment, I invite you to schedule a session with me. Dealing with depression is hard; do not make it harder by dealing with it alone. I look forward to guiding you down the path toward stronger mental health.
