Depression in men..a silent danger
Depression in men is one of the most silent mental health issues in our country. .
Depression affects both men and women alike, and negatively affects relationships, activities of daily living, work or study. While the symptoms and signs of depression in men are similar to those in women, men tend to express these symptoms differently.
Depressed men tend to talk about the physical symptoms associated with depression, such as back pain, headaches, sleep difficulties, or problems with sex, rather than talking about symptoms related to feelings, as many cultures consider it unsuitable for men to talk about feelings, and that they should be more Stiffness and control over their feelings, which leads to a failure to diagnose depression as an underlying cause behind these physical symptoms, and the situation worsens to unimaginable consequences. Statistics show that men with depression are four times more likely to commit suicide than women with depression.
Symptoms and signs of depression in men
First: The general symptoms and signs that affect both men and women, such as
Feeling sad, tearful, guilty or empty.
Losing the feeling of enjoying the joys of life.
Changes in appetite or weight.
Significant decrease or increase in sleep.
Feeling disoriented or tired with difficulty concentrating.
Of course, not all people with depression experience all of these symptoms.
Second: The signs that may affect men more than women, and can be classified into three groups
behavioral signs.
Emotional signs.
physical signs
Behavioral signs of depression in men
Avoid family and social situations.
Overworking without taking a break.
Difficulty keeping up with commitments, whether family or work-related.
Loss of interest and passion for many things, and a lack of motivation to succeed.
Tendency to be controlling or possessive in relationships with others.
Outbursts of anger and a tendency to recklessness and risk.
Resorting to alcohol or drug abuse.
suicide attempt
One theory is that these behavioral changes associated with depression in men come as a result of their attempt to hide depression in order to maintain their masculinity, and thus these attempts to conceal their disease cause them to engage in many self-destructive behaviors.
Emotional signs in men
Feeling sad and low mood.
An increase in feelings of anger.
Increased feeling of frustration.
feeling aggressive
Increased irritability and irritability.
Thinking of suicide.
As we have said, men often do not tend to talk about these symptoms related to feelings in general, but it should be emphasized the importance of men talking about the feelings they are going through, and that this does not reduce or detract from their manhood at all, as expression and talk help in Accurate diagnosis of depression and then treating it properly.
* Physical signs in men
headache;
sadness.
Back, joint or extremity pain.
Digestive disorders.
Tired.
Significantly increased or decreased sleep.
Feeling anxious and irritable.
Increased appetite or loss of appetite with changes in weight.
Although depression is primarily a psychological disease, it may lead to organic and physical symptoms, as some of these symptoms arise due to the effect of depression on brain chemistry, and leads to a change in the levels of serotonin and neuro-adrenaline, which control mood and feelings of pain.
Depression triggers in men
It cannot be said that there is a single reason behind men’s depression, as there are many biological, psychological and social factors that play a role in it, in addition to the individual’s choices related to lifestyle and relationships and his ability to cope with the difficulties and challenges and challenges of life and its variables.
However, there are some factors that clearly increase the risk of depression in men, such as:
Loneliness and lack of social support.
Inability to deal with stress and anxiety effectively.
Exposure to trauma or abuse during childhood.
Old age with isolation and lack of social friction.
How to treat depression in men
Depression can be treated through the use of antidepressant medications prescribed by a doctor, or psychotherapy by a therapist or psychiatrist, or a combination of pharmacological and psychological treatments, and it is always better to combine medication and psychotherapy.
First: drug therapy
Depression is accompanied by chemical changes in the levels of neurotransmitters, and drug therapy aims to restore the balance between these neurotransmitters, and according to the mechanism by which antidepressants work, it is classified under one of the following drug groups:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).
Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs).
Atypical antidepressants.
Tricyclic antidepressants.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
You take these medications under the supervision of the psychiatrist, who will adjust the doses until the best possible result is achieved, and some medications may need several weeks to show their effect, and this requires patience, and avoid stopping the medication without consulting the doctor.
Second: psychotherapy
Whether through individual or group sessions, there are many therapeutic schools, and each school has its own approach to dealing with depression. The most famous of these schools is the dynamic school, in which the therapist works with the patient to glimpse the roots of depression in the subconscious. and affiliation); This provides great support to the patient.
In general, 80% of depressed men and women can be successfully treated with these means, and the important thing is to stop stigmatizing men with depression, and recognize their right to express their illness and treatment, while providing them with the necessary support during their journey to overcome the disease.
Sources:
Depression in Men - HelpGuide.org
Signs and Symptoms of Depression in Men - Healthline
Depression in Men: Types, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
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