Men and women can experience depression in different ways, and it can be also seen that they may face common depression symptoms and signs. Women are more expressed in showing their emotions, and they can better describe themselves when they feel depressed. Men might not recognize their symptoms as depression, and this way they starts hiding their unhappiness, so the illness might get overlooked in men until it becomes more severe.
Depression actually affects to both the genders, men and women. It disrupts relationships and interferes with work and other daily activities. The symptoms of depression in men are very much similar to the symptoms of depression in women. But men tend to express those symptoms in different ways. In women, the depression may be more likely to cause feelings of sadness and worthlessness. On the other hand, depression in men may be more likely to cause them to become withdrawn or to feel aggressive, irritable or hostile.
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Symptoms of Depression:
Depression is a serious and pervasive mood disorder that causes hopelessness, helplessness, feelings of sadness and worthlessness. Depression can be mild to moderate with symptoms of apathy, difficulty sleeping, low self-esteem, little appetite and low-grade fatigue. Or it can be a major depression, with symptoms of diminished interest in daily activities, weight loss or gain, depressed mood most of the day, insomnia, fatigue, feelings of guilt almost daily and recurring thoughts of suicide or death. Depression treatment can be performed successfully if detected on time.
As per mental health studies, symptoms of depression may include the following:
- Feeling difficulty in concentrating, remembering details and making decisions.
- Fatigue and decrease of energy
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness or helplessness
- Feelings hopelessness and/or pessimism
- Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness or excessive sleeping
- Irritability and restlessness
- Loss of interest in exercise, activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including physical intimacy
- Appetite loss or overeating
- Persistent aches or pains, cramps, headaches or digestive problems that even don’t get recovered by treatment
- Persistent sad, anxious or feelings of emptiness/loneliness
- Thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts
There are many life events where men respond differently than women in depressed situations. Let’s have a look at how men deal with depression:
Men may respond differently to stressful life events:
Men and women handle stressful events differently. Both lead stressful lives, but both handle it in their own unique way. Women often seek support to talk about her emotional experience; she feels like to discuss with others about what is happening with her and what might be done to overcome. Whereas men often skip the activity to get relief from stress.
Men with depression prefer to take alcohol:
Men suffering from depression may drink heavily or take other illegal drugs to medicate themselves. The ratio is found to be less of taking alcohol in women in comparison to men taking the help of alcohol to deal with depression.
Other Substances:
Depressed men may also try to hide their sadness by turning to other option such as watching TV, playing sports or working excessively. They can also turn their direction to avoid stress by making them engage in risky behaviors like doing gambling, smoking, driving rash, doing unsafe sex etc. Depression can also shop up as anger and irritability in men.
Men are more likely to commit suicide:
Depression symptoms in men can go longer without being detected or treated, the condition might develop into a more devastating mental health problem. Men suffering from depression symptoms are also more likely to be successful than women when they attempt suicide but usually, they get fail.
Eat more and gain weight:
In some cases, it has been also found that men start eating extra when they find themselves in a stress or depression. They will eat a lot without even realizing that they are gaining extra weight which could be equally harmful to them in near future.
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Sleep more:
It has been also found that men in depression can sleep more than 7 to 8 hours a day. They feel like to sleep rather facing the stressed situations.
Through various ways, depression cure can taken care of. One can discuss his/her problems with family, close friends, or psychiatrist to overcome with depression.
