The Complexities of Male Depression
Posted on: May 2nd, 2014
As many as 1 in 10 Americans reportedly suffer from depression. Sometimes it can be triggered by biological imbalances, but it can also be induced by stress or related to a specific event. One aspect of the disease that is often misunderstood is that it can manifest itself in very different ways depending upon whether the sufferer is male or female. This illness can be more difficult to identify in men, so I thought I might outline three of the less obvious issues related to male depression.
1. In our culture, men are traditionally expected to be stoic in the face of sadness. Though this has changed somewhat in recent years, it is still uncommon to see men display sadness or cry in public. Men who suffer from depression often try to hide their sadness and instead it manifests as aggressive, agitated or hostile behavior.
2. People tend to think of depression as just a mood disorder, but it also has physical symptoms such as insomnia, headaches, back pain and digestive problems. In an article in Health magazine, “12 Signs of Depression in Men,” Norman Sussman, a professor of psychiatry at New York University, explains, “…people who are depressed do genuinely feel bad physically. It is a medical disorder.” Men are more likely to seek treatment for these physical symptoms alone, leaving their depression undiagnosed and untreated.
3. In a frightening statistic from WebMD, “Over 90% of people who die by suicide have clinical depression or another diagnosable mental disorder. . . .” and “. . .men take their lives nearly four times the rate of women, accounting for 79% of suicides in the U.S.” This is a major reason why it is imperative to properly diagnose depression in men.
At Maureen Kritzer-Lange Psychotherapy, we’re committed to treating and offering relief from this complex illness. If you or someone you love is exhibiting signs of male depression, contact Maureen Kritzer-Lange Psychotherapy for a consultation. Email: info@maureenkritzerlange.com or phone: 973-313-1691.
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