Depression In Men
Q: Every year, depression afflicts more that 11 million Americans, but men
account for only one in 10 diagnosed cases. Because of this, depression
was once considered a "woman's disease," linked to hormones and
premenstrual syndrome. The lingering stereotype of depression being a
female condition may prevent some men from recognizing its symptoms and
seeking appropriate treatment.
A:In reality, depression affects both sexes, disrupting relationships and
interfering with work and daily activities. The symptoms of depression
are similar for both men and women, but they tend to be expressed
differently. The most common symptoms of depression include low
self-esteem; suicidal thoughts; loss of interest in usually pleasurable
activities; fatigue; changes in appetite; sleep disturbances; apathy;
and sexual problems, including reduced sex drive.
There are several reasons why the symptoms of depression in men are not
commonly recognized:
* Men tend to deny having problems because they are supposed to "be
strong."
* American culture suggests that expressing emotion is largely a
feminine trait. As a result, men who are depressed are more likely to
talk about the physical symptoms of their depression, such as feeling
tired, rather than those related to emotions.
* Depression can affect sexual desire and performance. Men often are
unwilling to admit to problems with their sexuality -- mistakenly
feeling that the problems are related to their manhood, when in fact
they are caused by a medical problem.
* The observable symptoms of male depression are not as well understood
as those in women. Men are less likely to show "typical" signs of
depression, such as crying, sadness, loss of interest in previously
enjoyable activities, or verbally expressing thoughts of suicide.
Instead, men are more likely to keep their feelings hidden, but may
become more irritable and aggressive.
For these reasons, many men -- as well as doctors and other healthcare
professionals -- fail to recognize the problem as depression. Some
mental healthcare professionals suggest that if