Did you know more than 5 million men in the U.S. alone
experience depression each year?
Clinical depression can cause sadness and a loss of interest
in once pleasurable activities. While the symptoms used to diagnose depression
are the same regardless of gender, often the chief complaint can be different
between men and women:
1-
Fatigue:
People who are depressed undergo a series of physical and
emotional changes. They can experience fatigue, as well as psychomotor retardation,
or a slowing down of physical movements, speech, and thought processes.
2-
Sleeping too much or too little
Sleep problems such as insomnia, waking up very early in the
morning, or excessive sleeping are common depression symptoms.
3-
Stomachache or backache
Health problems such as constipation or diarrhea, and/or
headaches and back pain, are common in people who are depressed.
4-
Irritability
Instead of seeming down, men who are depressed often show
signs of irritability. Often talk about an emotional component, as well as
negative thoughts are a common aspect of depression.
5-
Difficulty concentrating
Psychomotor retardation can slow down a man’s ability to
process information, thereby impairing concentration on work or other tasks.
6-
Anger or hostility
Some men manifest depression by being hostile, angry, or
aggressive. A man who realizes something is wrong may need to compensate by
demonstrating that he is still strong and capable.
7-
Stress
Men might be more likely to report symptoms of depression as
stress. It’s not that they have more stress, it’s that it’s more socially
acceptable to report it.
8-
Anxiety
There is a strong link between anxiety disorders and
depression. Men may be no more likely than women to experience anxiety, in
fact, anxiety disorders are about twice as prevalent in women but it’s often
easier for men to talk about feeling anxious rather than sad.
9-
Substance abuse
Substance abuse frequently accompanies depression. Research
has shown that alcoholics are almost twice as likely to suffer from major
depression as people without a drinking problem.
10-
Sexual dysfunction
Depression is a common reason for loss of desire and
erectile dysfunction, and its one symptom that men are inclined not to report.
Performance problems can come from depression and make depression worse.
11-
Indecision
Some people naturally have a hard time making decisions, so
an inability to make choices is usually worrisome only if it’s a new behavior
12-
Suicidal thoughts
Women are more likely to attempt suicide, but men are more
than four times as likely to die if they do attempt suicide. One reason is that
men tend to choose more lethal methods.
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