Depression is Quite Common Among Men
Depression is a medical condition that affects 19 million Americans.1 It is an equal opportunity illness, affecting all ages,
races, and economic groups, and both genders.
Men of any age can be stricken with depression, although the risk
increases as men get older. It is estimated that 40% of men will suffer
some degree of depression between the ages of 40 and 60.
Depressed men sometimes deny they have problems because they are
taught to "be strong," and depression may be perceived as
a weakness. However, depression is not a weakness; it is a real disease,
and it should not be left untreated.
Remember, if you are a man with depression, you are not alone. Help
is available.
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What Depression is
Everyone gets sad sometimes—a brief blue mood, disappointments,
grief after losing a loved one. Depression, though, is different.
Depression is not just a case of the blues; it is a serious medical
illness often caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain.
Much like diabetes, asthma, or heart disease, depression is a disease
that requires medical treatment. Otherwise, depression can last months
or, in some cases, years.
If left untreated, depression can worsen the symptoms of other illnesses,
lead to disability, or increase the risk of suicide. The suicide rate
triples for men in midlife, and increases 7 times in men over
the age of 65.
Having a history of depression makes the risk of suicide 78 times
higher.
Compared with depressed women, depressed men are more likely to experience:
- Shame and fear of admitting "weakness"
- Impatience, irritability, and restlessness
- Anger and hostility toward family, friends, and others
- Alcohol abuse
- Lack of sleep
The symptoms of male depression are different from the classic symptoms
most of us associate with depression. Men are more likely to act out
their unrecognized and denied feelings of depression.
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Some Signs and Symptoms of Depression
There are several signs and symptoms that can help a healthcare
provider determine if a man has depression. If you (or someone you
know) have had at least 5 of the following symptoms for most of the
day, nearly every day for more than 2 weeks, professional help should
be sought:
- Feelings of sadness, depressed mood, and/or irritability
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities, such as hobbies or
spending time with family/friends
- Changes in weight or appetite
- Changes in sleeping pattern
- Sleeping too much or not being able to sleep at all
- Feelings of guilt, hopelessness, or worthlessness
- Inability to concentrate, remember things, or make decisions
- Constant fatigue or loss of energy
- Restlessness or decreased activity
- Recurrent thoughts of suicide or death
Important note: if you or someone you know has thoughts
of suicide, seek professional help immediately through your healthcare
provider, or call 411 to get the phone number for the nearest local
suicide hotline.
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What Depression is Not
Depression is not something to be ashamed of. Men need to understand
that telling loved ones or healthcare professionals about symptoms
of depression is not a sign of personal weakness or a character flaw.
"Toughing it out" in silence benefits no one. In fact, telling
people that you are having symptoms of depression is an extremely
important first step to getting help...and getting better.
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Some Risk Factors for Depression in Men
- Family history of mood disorders
- Abuse of drugs and/or alcohol
- Personal history of mood disorders
- Chronic health problems such as cancer, heart disease, or HIV
- Separation or divorce
- Decreased sexual potency
- Occupational stress
As a man enters midlife, more of these stressful factors can potentially
come into play, leading to a greater risk for developing depression.
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Good News: With Proper Treatment, More Than 80% of People with Depression
Can Improve
There are two main treatments for depression—counseling, also
called psychotherapy, and medication. For some men, either treatment
alone may be sufficient. For others, the most effective therapy is
a combination of the two.
Counseling, or psychotherapy, is often called "talk" therapy,
and it comes in many forms. Basically, psychotherapy is aimed at helping
a person develop new ways to cope with problems and to identify and
understand more about depression and how to avoid it in the future.
Psychotherapy may take place in individual, group, or family sessions.
The process may take some time before it is effective.
Antidepressant medications work by helping to correct the imbalance
of certain chemicals in the brain. These medications may take several
weeks to be effective, but hey work well and are generally safe. For information
about side effects, talk with your healthcare provider.
In addition to therapy and medication, there are other things you
can do that may help you start feeling better, including: exercising
regularly, improving your diet, establishing a normal full-night sleeping
schedule, and reducing or eliminating caffeine and alcohol. For additional
suggestions about what you can do, talk with your healthcare provider.
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If Your Healthcare Provider Does Prescribe an Antidepressant for You
Be sure to tell him or her if you are taking any other medications,
including those obtained over the counter.
Follow all of your healthcare provider's instructions about how and
when you should take your antidepressant medication. If you experience
side effects at any point while you are taking a medication prescribed
by your healthcare professional, contact him or her as soon as possible
to share this information.
It is important to take your medication as long as your healthcare
provider instructs, even if you start feeling better. Otherwise your
depression could return or worsen. And remember, studies show most
antidepressants are not addictive, particularly the newer classes
of antidepressants such as SSRIs.
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Reference: 1. Kessler RC, Chui W, Demler O, Walters E. Prevalence, Severity, and Comorbidity of 12-Month of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication.
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005; 62:617-627.