Even though depression strikes significantly more women than men, male depression is a distinct reality. Depression in men often strikes around midlife; at about the time women begin to hit perimenopause. Often thought of as being a midlife crisis, male depression can cause men to become irritable, withdrawn and mean without any clear reason for the change. Many men attribute their problems to the women in their lives who are going through the trauma of menopause and do not realize that the problems are coming from within until it is too late. These men may try to alleviate the suffering the feel by engaging in risky behavior, substance abuse and thrill seeking but still find no pleasure in their activities. The misery becomes unbearable and some even attempt suicide before they are willing to look into getting help.
Undiagnosed Problem
Like many mental illnesses, male depression goes largely undiagnosed simply because the men suffering do not seek help. It can be because they are ashamed to admit that they feel sad or they believe it is a sign of weakness. Many men are more than a little reluctant to even talk about physical health issues with their doctor; they are even less forthcoming about their mental health. The causes the problem to remain untreated until it becomes a severe problem and affects life at home, at work and socially.
Even when they are forced to face the reality that there is something wrong, they choose to focus on the physical ailments that come with depression. This can include chronic pain and headaches but completely excludes the problems caused by the emotional and depressed issues that are the actual cause. It is easier to explain away a physical ailment to family, friends and coworkers than a mental one.
Male Depression Signs
The sadness that is felt within the man suffering may be overwhelming but it will likely go unstated. The outwards signs of male depression can be noted by the people who interact with the victim the most, their family and friends. It is important to recognize the signs of male depression to be able to help someone who may not realize they are in need. Some symptoms include:
Anger
Frustration
Violence
Weight Loss
Risk taking -reckless driving/sex
Lack of concentration
Isolation
Avoiding pleasurable activities
Fatigue
Chronic pain
Alcohol or substance abuse
Prescription medication abuse
Suicidal thoughts/ideas
Sleep issues
Expressions of guilt/worthlessness
Going Too Far
Any type of depression can become severe when left untreated; male depression is no different. Unfortunately, male depression often does go untreated until the sufferer is severely depressed or has developed a dependency on a substance to feel normal. This type of behavior lends itself to a cycle of negative reinforcement with the depression fueling the dependence and the dependence fueling the depression; the result is misery and ill health. Besides the health factors, the social implications are huge. Leaving male depression untreated puts at risk the home and work life of the sufferer. The risk of divorce skyrockets as does the risk of job loss (due to lack of productivity). One of the worst aspects is that it can increase the risk of children of the depressed to become depressed themselves. As conditions get worse, the man is increasingly likely to make an attempt on his own life after being undiagnosed for a lengthy time period. The span between beginning to have suicidal thoughts and actually making plans and attempts can be a little as a year and come with little or no warning.
Treating Male Depression
There are a number of medications that treat male depression along with therapy to improve the odds of getting all the way out from under the depression. There is a waide array of medicines to choose from that work to alter the chemical balance in the brain. These include the old guard of MAOIs (Nardil, Parnate) and Tricyclics (Elavil), the well respected SSRIs (Prozac, Zoloft) and the new generation of drugs (Wellbutrin) that have few side effects and treat more than just depression. These can be pretty expensive and they come with some side effects that can cause depression themselves (like sexual dysfunction) which should be considered when starting a drug regimen. You can also choose from a variety of natural medicines like St. Johns Wort and Ginkgo Biloba or Eastern homeopathic remedies like acupuncture and reflexology to relieve symptoms of depression.
