Depression In Men

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These are my views on this issue. Statistics tell us that women are twice as likely to get depressed as men. Of the estimated 18 million Americans who suffer from depression in any given year, only 1/3 are men. Some experts say it is because women experience hormonal changes during menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth and menopause, which may contribute to depression and complicate its treatment. Depression in men is a widespread problem in the US and to deal with it, we need to understand how it differs from female depression. Whether it is because some men are ashamed to admit they have a mental condition or they just aren't as attuned to their mental health as women, generally men tend to ignore symptoms of depression. Women are probably more likely to have pure depression than men; men are more likely to have other, co-morbid disorders. Women are more likely to have anxiety in association with their depression, while men are more likely to exhibit signs of substance abuse or conduct disorder. Some say that depression for men is more dangerous then in women. Men are more then likely to cimmit suicide then women, although women are more likely to attempt suicide. Men shy away from talking about their feelings, ask for help, and seek treatment for depression. I think one of the rreasons that male depression goes undiagnosed is because men fear the repercussions of admitting they have a mental disorder. Some men are concerned that their coworkers, friends and family would look down on them if they sought help for depression. Also, many men fear their job security, promotion potential, and health benefits would be negatively affected if their coworkers or boss found out they were depressed. Symptoms of Depression: *Persistant sad, anxious, or "empty" mood *Feelings of hopelessness ans pessimism *Feelings of guilt and worthlessness *Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed *Decreases energy and increased fatigue *Difficulty concentrating , remembering and making decisions *Insomnia, early morning awakening or oversleeping *Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain *Thoughts of death or suicide: suicide attempts *Restlessness and irritability *Persistant physical syptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders or chronic pain These syptoms can and do appear and both men and women who are depressed, men do handle these differently. Men are less likely to experience sadness, worthlessness and guilt. Men can and do experience fatigue, headaches, digestive disorders, chronic pain, irritability, anger, loss of interest in relationships, decreased interest in hobbies, excessive time spent at work and sleep disturbances. We need to look for signs in both men and women. The more we try to get help or help those that are depressed, the more happier we can all try to be. I am not trying to diagnose in any way. I am just trying to help those that might need help or someone in their family that might need help.