Male Depression
Statistically male depression affects only 5%-10% of men.
Women develop depression twice as often as men.
There are over 6 million male depression patients in the United States and some say that the numbers are even higher. Does it mean that men are less affected by depression because of some nature law? There most be another reason.
Although male depression is a lot less common than women depression, rate of male depression suicide is up to four times higher than in women. And why is that? Is male depression a more severe illness than women depression?
Here is one of the possible answers: Studies show that while women tend to seek mental health care for their depression, male depression patients find it difficult to even admit to having a male depression disorder and many of them refuse treatment. Some even consider male depression as a threat to your masculinity and are not used to share feelings and emotions. Untreated male depression progress to a point when the person just can take it anymore, what explains the higher suicide rates among male depression patients.
Another reason is that male depression is very difficult to diagnose and evaluate.
Male depression symptoms:
A depressed patient usually shows symptoms of sadness, worthlessness and hopelessness, he might have a low level of energy and have problems falling asleep at night and over sleep during the day. Difficulties in concentrating and thinking are another typical symptoms of depression.
Male depression symptoms are slightly different.Male depression symptoms are usually behavioral. A male depression patient will not necessarily be sad or feel worthless and hopeless. He might present an angry, irritable and agitated behavior and even show violent or abusive behavior. He will not necessarily have a low level of energy, on the contrary. Many male depression patients focus on their jobs, work excessively and for long hours. Those male depression symptoms are very commonly being confused for a normal, healthy man’s behavior and there for not treated in time.
Use of drugs and alcohol is another factor that makes male depression so difficult to diagnose and treat. Some male depression patients use drugs and alcohol to get away from their difficulties (by creating another one…) and also to mask the fact that they suffer male depression from their close family and friends and even from themselves.
Although male depression is more difficult to diagnose and treat than women depression, there are ways of dealing with it. First step in male depression treatment is admitting to the condition. Seeking help as soon as possible is essential for having good success rates in treating male depression and any other disorder.