For the longest time, medical science has uncovered mind-blowing differences between men and women. In a Pew Research Center survey, a majority of respondents believed that there are fundamental differences between the two sexes.
This included areas like physical abilities, hobbies or personal interests, and things each gender can do better at the workplace. Even psychologically, men and women can be said to have different makeup.
For instance, conditions like depression do not manifest the same way in both genders. Women may be twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression, but in the case of men, the sad part is many diagnoses never happen.
This is simply because this condition manifests in a very different way, and is largely misunderstood. In this article, we will discuss how depression affects men differently.
Spotting the Differences
Let’s start by understanding how male and female depression differs. In the case of most women, depression looks pretty straightforward. It manifests itself via symptoms like persistent sadness, anxiety, mood swings, and constant fatigue.
Many may indeed try to hide these feelings and wear a fake smile on their face. However, most are aware that they have a prolonged sadness that they just cannot seem to shake off. If a woman opens up about her situation, she may usually express it through crying.
As for men, they are taught to act tough from a young age. Crying is seen as weak among men, which is why depression rarely looks like sadness in this gender. It’s more likely that men may appear to be angry all the time.
Anger or aggression is seen as a manly emotion, so men generally resort to it. Even in terms of coping mechanisms, there are differences. Women are more likely than men to express their emotions and seek community or help.
Men are far less likely to seek help and may look for unhealthy coping mechanisms. Many end up in substance abuse like drugs or alcohol as a means to cope. Many resort to substance abuse, such as drugs or alcohol, which may temporarily mask feelings of depression but ultimately worsen mental health. Professional support, such as detox programs for alcohol or drugs, can help break this cycle and foster long-term recovery. As per the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s latest consensus, men are four times more likely to commit suicide.
However, women tend to have more suicidal thoughts when compared to men. One primary reason for this difference is the fact that men do not tend to open up easily about their condition.
Causes of Depression in Both Sexes
When it comes to the causes of depression among both sexes, there may be similarities and differences. For instance, stressful events in life are one of the leading causes of depression in general.
Now, these events may differ among the genders. The two main stressful life events that can make men depressed are relationship breakdowns/divorce and issues at work. Women, being more relational, tend to rely on their support groups when marital problems occur.
While they may also feel depressed due to these problems, most talk things through with their social circle, something which men don’t. This is why the said causes are also among the top reasons behind men’s suicide rates.
There may be other issues that are quite beyond one’s control literally. An example would be hormonal changes or imbalances. Now, people tend to associate women mostly with hormone-related depression because their bodies are more sensitive that way.
However, even men can experience hormonal imbalances that could contribute to major depressive disorder. According to EVEXIAS Medical Centers, potential causes for hormone-related issues in men include aging, certain medical conditions, medicines, or lifestyle factors like stress and sleep deprivation.
In such cases, medical help to balance hormones is the best possible way to overcome depression. Other general factors that lead to depression among both sexes include financial problems, chronic medical conditions, and family history.
Equal-Opportunity Help
Whatever the reason for depression may be, there is support available for both men and women. Moreover, this condition can be tackled by proper self-care and a robust action plan. Let’s look at these avenues a bit more in detail.
Seeking Professional Help
This particular point cannot be overstated, because one main reason why so many men or women may end up doing the worst is not seeking professional help. Sad as it is, depression still carries a bit of stigma in the sense that it is something that you cannot see visibly.
However, the wounds inflicted on one’s mind are much more difficult to heal. In most cases, it does not go away on its own. So, there’s no shame in admitting that there is a psychological problem. Whether the same is due to any physical issues is something a psychiatrist will help determine.
For instance, in the case of a hormone imbalance in men, the healthcare provider may prescribe hormone replacement therapy (HRT). They will also counsel and guide the individual to make good lifestyle choices. The same holds true in the case of women. This is especially true if stress is considered to be the root cause of hormone-related depression.
Even psychologically, a therapist will deal with the issue through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), couples therapy, or psychotherapy. They will help take one’s negative line of thinking captive to replace it with positive affirmations.
Practicing Self-Care
We understand that the modern lifestyle makes little room for personal time. Most of our calendars are filled with duties and obligations we just cannot skip. However, this is an easy way to escalate and prolong one’s depression.
Though each gender has its way of practicing self-care, it’s crucial to make time for it somehow. As the Cleveland Clinic recommends, this may be as simple as enjoying sound sleep every night and spending time with the people you care about.
These are two activities that both the sexes can participate in. Now, there are no hard and fast rules, but some self-care regimes can look slightly different. For instance, men usually consider going to the gym and eating healthy as part of self-care. Some are into journaling their thoughts and listening to calming music.
While women also enjoy these, most have varied interests in the form of sewing, cooking, doing arts and crafts, etc. The main point is to do more of what makes you feel happy and alive. Some days, you may simply have to do these as well out of sheer discipline.
Do not let a few bad days discourage you. Depression does seem to occur in waves, so the time will pass.
Developing an Action Plan
Along with professional help and self-care, it’s important to have a solid action plan in place. Since depression often occurs in episodes, individuals suffering from it require a definite structure to their day.
Start with having a fixed routine, which you note down in a productivity journal. You can even leave space for tracking your mood, dietary intake, and water consumption for each day. If planning your day from start to finish seems too overwhelming, target three must-do tasks for each day.
Then, you can note as you see fit. After all, no two days look exactly the same. Make room for unexpected interruptions like a friend paying a visit or rescheduled counseling sessions. Keep your list realistic and set simple goals to achieve each day.
This will help you feel a much-needed sense of control. On days when it’s too difficult to be functional, even making your bed can make it to the list of three to-dos. Do not pressure your mind and body beyond its limits; stay in tune and follow its cues.
As we see, depression is a condition that can affect adult men or women. However, it may not look the same for both parties. What’s important is that one opens up about their struggles. Also, learning healthy coping skills is a must. Then, it’s possible to bounce back stronger than ever.
