Retired Detroit Lions Eric Hipple spreads the word on suicide prevention.
Men and Depression: Asking for Help is a Sign of Strength Not Weakness
Depression is a common brain disorder that affects one of every seven individuals in their lifetime. Depressive illnesses such as depression and bipolar disorder are caused by a combination of genetics, changes in the brain’s stress response, different chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) and differences in the brain’s circuitry patterns in response to life events. At least six million men in the United States suffer from a depressive episode every year.
Men and women share many standard symptoms of depression, such as sleep, appetite and pleasure disturbances, but men frequently experience depression differently than women. They may emphasize physical complaints, such as backaches. They may get discouraged, angry and irritable rather than helpless or hopeless. Instead of asking for help when depressed, men tend to turn to drugs or alcohol, or work excessively long hours. In addition, depressed men may not recognize that physical symptoms such as fatigue, digestive problems and aches and pains that won’t go away can be symptoms of depression. Due in part to these factors, depression in men often goes undetected, with serious and tragic consequences: four times as many men as women die by suicide in the United States.
The positive news, however, is that depression is treatable, most often with medication, psychotherapy (“talk” therapy) or a combination of both. Even better news for those who have struggled with repeat episodes is that it is possible to prevent recurrences for most. For men, acknowledging they are depressed and asking for help may be the biggest hurdle. Men—and their families and friends—have to learn that depression is a brain disease and a common illness, just as pain in the chest may be secondary to a heart disease. Depression is NOT a sign of weakness. Family, friends and co-workers can help to recognize depressive symptoms in men, emphasize that depression is a medical illness and encourage them to seek appropriate treatment.
At least six million men in the United States suffer from a depressive episode every year.
Possible Depression Triggers for Men Throughout the Lifespan
- Adjustment to college or graduate school
- Loss of job, through layoff or retirement
- Ongoing health problems such as diabetes, cancer or heart disease
- Divorce
- “Mid-Life Crisis”
- Death of friends or family members
- Excessive alcohol or drug use
- Active military service or retirement
Symptoms of Depression: What to Look for in Men and Women
While depression is common across the lifespan and in both sexes, symptoms of depression can vary by gender and age group. Here are some of the most common unique symptoms experienced by men and women.
Symptoms in Men
- Feeling angry, frustrated or irritable
- Working excessive hours
- Physical aches and pains that won’t go away
- Reckless behavior
- Abuse of alcohol or drugs
Symptoms in Women
- Feeling sad, anxious, or “empty”
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Changes in weight or appetite
- Feeling helpless or hopeless
- Thoughts of death or suicide
