Men Get Depressed, Too
Being a man doesn't mean that you're immune from being depressed. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that over 6 million men have some form of depression each year. The number could be even higher because men will hide or ignore the symptoms. You may not think that depression is a problem in your life, but when it interferes with your job, family and recreation, it can be a big problem. Here is what depression looks like in a man and why you need to take action if you find yourself faced with the symptoms.
Types of Depression
This is not a one-size-fits-all illness. There are different forms of depression and each person reacts in their own way. The two general categories of depression you need to be aware of are:
- Major depression: This type has no discernible cause and has symptoms that can last for weeks or months.
- Situational depression: This type is due to a significant life change such as a death in the family, divorce or job change. It may last for days or weeks then disappear.
Depression in Men
There are a number of symptoms common to depression, but you may not have all of them. Men can have depression but not feel sadness, which makes it difficult to diagnose. The symptoms you display may look like a physical problem. Only when your family medicine doctor does a through exam to rule out physical illness can depression be looked at as the cause of the symptoms.
If you find yourself tired or irritable all of the time, unable to sleep, and losing interest in your job and doing things with friends and family, you're seeing the signs of depression. A visit with your doctor is the first step to make sure there are no physical causes for any of the symptoms.
Symptoms You May Experience
Looking at one of these symptoms, you may think that you're just having a bad day. It's important to step back and see if you're having more than one of these symptoms, and if you have had a number of bad days. That is a sign to see your doctor and stop the cycle that's perpetuating the symptoms.
- Fatigue: You often feel weak or sluggish and find it hard to make yourself do things. This might be preventing you from being productive at work or from getting involved with friends or family activities.
- Sleep disruption: Your normal sleep pattern has changed and you have a hard time getting to and staying asleep, or you consistently oversleep.
- Mysterious aches and pains: Back pain and stomach pain with no physical basis are seen in men who have depression.
- Anger and irritability: Men will sometimes externalize their depression by showing anger or hostility. Those with severe depression may become violent.
- Difficulty concentration: Some men find it hard to focus on what they're doing. You may stare at the work on your desk without starting something, or you may find it easy to be distracted so you don't finish projects.
- Substance abuse: Men may hide their uncomfortable or confusing feelings by drinking too much which creates additional problems for them.
- Sexual dysfunction: Depression can make it difficult for a man to experience their normal level of sexual activity.
If you have any of these symptoms and your life is being disrupted by them, see a doctor at a clinic like Choice Medical Group for advice. You always want to make sure that something physical is not causing them. If not that, then perhaps a significant change in your life triggered them. These symptoms can be controlled so you can get back to your normal life, but only if you stop ignoring them and recognize that you have an illness that can be treated.
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