Depression and Men

Why is it important?

Depression can be very unpleasant and is a major reason for people taking time off work. Many - perhaps most - men who kill themselves have been depressed - so it can even be fatal. However, depression can be helped - the sooner the better.

 What's the difference between just feeling miserable and being depressed?

 Everyone has times in their lives when they feel down or depressed. It is usually for a good reason, does not dominate your life and does not last for a long time.

However, if the depression goes on for weeks, months, or becomes very bad, you may find yourself stuck and unable to lift yourself out of it. It can start to affect every area of your life - and this is when you may need to get help. Depression is not a sign of weakness - it has affected many famous and successful men.

What about bipolar disorder (manic depression)?

Some people have severe depression - but also times when they become elated and over-active. These 'high' periods can be just as harmful as the periods of depression. This used to be called manic depression, but is now bipolar disorder.

What are the signs of depression?

If you are depressed, you will probably notice some of the following:

In your mind, you

• Feel unhappy, miserable, down, depressed. The feeling just won’t go away and can be worse at a particular time of day, often first thing in the morning.
• Can’t enjoy anything.
• Lose interest in seeing people and lose touch with friends.
• Can’t concentrate properly.
• Feel guilty about things that have nothing to do with you.
• Become pessimistic.
• Start to feel hopeless, and perhaps even suicidal.

In your body, you may find that you

• Can’t get to sleep.
• Wake early in the morning and/or throughout the night.
• Lose interest in sex.
• Can’t eat and lose weight.
• 'Comfort eat' more and put on weight.

Anxiety

Some men also feel very anxious when they become depressed. You feel on edge all the time, worried, fearful, and may find it hard to go out or to face people. Anxiety can often also cause physical symptoms - dry mouth, sweating, shakiness, palpitations, breathlessness, stomach churning and diarrhoea.

Is depression really different for men?

Different symptoms

There doesn't seem to be a completely separate type of ‘male depression’. However, some symptoms are more common in men than in women. These include:

• Irritability
• Sudden anger
• Increased loss of control
• Greater risk-taking
• Aggression

Men are also more likely to commit suicide.

Different ways of coping

Men are diagnosed with depression less than women, but do seem to drink and use illegal drugs more heavily than women. It may be that, instead of talking, men use drugs and alcohol as 'self-medication' to cope with their depression.