What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Depression in Men?

Men, women, and people of all gender identities may feel depression problems at some point in their lives. However, depression is a severe health problem that affects how a person thinks, feels, and acts. According to data sources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most women seem to feel depression more than men. However, it’s thought that men may be depreciated in these numbers.

However, a mix of social and biological factors makes it more complicating to notice and diagnose depression in men. Also, they may experience being culturally pressured to act “manly” by hiding their emotions. Because of this, it is more common for men to have depression with different and sometimes harder to identify signs. However, if you think you or someone you love may be fighting depression, read on to learn about the possible symptoms that men may feel and what you can do next.

Physical symptoms of depression in men

Depressed men may first notice its physical effects. While depression is considered a mental sickness disorder, it can also manifest in the body. Most men are more likely to visit their medical consultant for physical and emotional issues. However, some familiar physical signs of depression in men may include:-

  • Chest tightness
  • Digestive problems, such as gas, diarrhea, and constipation
  • Erectile dysfunction and other sexual issues
  • Headaches
  • Hormonal problems like low testosterone
  • Pain
  • racing heart or heart palpitations
  • Unintended weight loss (and sometimes weight gain)

Mental symptoms of depression in men

Mental symptoms of depression may show differently in men than in people of other genders, making depression harder to detect. These symptoms may obstruct how a person thinks and processes information, affecting behavior and emotions. However, some of the most familiar mental symptoms of depression in men may include:-

  • Inability to concentrate
  • Memory issues
  • Obsessive-compulsive thought patterns
  • Racing thoughts
  • Sleep issues, usually difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
  • Suicidal thoughts

Emotional symptoms of depression in men

When many people hear the word “depression,” they believe in a person who seems very sad. However, sadness is just one of many feasible emotions depression can cause. In addition to sorrow, men may feel the following emotional symptoms of depression:-

  • Agitation
  • Aggression
  • Anger
  • Emotional withdrawal from friends, family, and relatives
  • Hopelessness
  • Deficiency of interest in family, community, hobbies, and work
  • Deficiency of libido
  • Restlessness

Behavioral symptoms of depression in men

The mental, physical, and emotional signs of depression in men can also affect their behavior. Because men rest talk through their emotions, it’s often their behavioral symptoms of depression that are most manifest to others. In man the most common behavioral signs of depression in men may include:-

  • Drug misuse
  • Drinking alcohol in excess amount
  • Engaging in risky activities, like driving recklessly or having unprotected sex
  • Social isolation
  • Suicide attempts

Why can depression go undiagnosed in men?

Generally, men are socialized by society to control their emotions, though we know doing so isn’t healthy. However, in their efforts to control these social norms, most men may compromise their emotional, physical, and mental well-being. In addition, most men are never thought to know the less typical signs of depression that they’re more likely than others to feel. However, some men never seek help for their depression because they never know the characters.

As a result, when many men feel depressed, they start to work long hours or otherwise fill their time to stay busy. Diagnosing depression and looking for treatment can support saving lives. Suicidal rates are high among men, especially those who have or are currently distributed in the military. Additionally, men are 3 to 4 times more likely than women to complete suicide.

What are the current treatment options?

Many men start treatment for average cases of depression by scheduling an appointment with a talk therapist. From there, the therapist might purpose-specific types of care, including:-

  • Cognitive, biological therapy
  • Interpersonal therapy
  • Problem-solving therapy
  • Psychodynamic therapy

However, medication might be advised immediately for most severe cases to alleviate some of the physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral signs of depression. Antidepressants like paroxetine or sertraline are commonly taken to treat depression. However, a mental health consultant may also advise other medications.

Last Updated on October 11, 2023 by anup