In modern society, a long time ago there was a stereotype that men are a strong half of humanity. In the eyes of women, as a rule, they look physically strong and unshakable in the soul. However, psycho-emotional balance is not always a characteristic feature of the male sex. Today, it is increasingly possible to observe symptoms of depression in men.
Why do men get depressed?
Often this issue is not discussed. Men are rarely ready to admit that they have been overcome by weakness or control over the current situation is completely lost. Unable to regulate processes that once depended solely on them and to stay afloat in a series of life troubles, they do not think about the fact that depression is most likely to overcome them. Symptoms in men often for quite a long time proceed in a latent form, without any manifestations noticeable to others.
According to psychologists, the problem lies in the male complexes, imposed by prejudice and stereotyped thinking. Well, who said men should not cry? Nevertheless, at the present time it is almost impossible to meet a young man who knows how to sincerely show his feelings. Men are shy of emotions, tears, because for them it is a manifestation of weakness, and a real male should always be strong and unshakable, able to cope with any obstacles in his path. And if women, at the slightest problem, are ready to turn to specialists for advice or help, then men do not even want to hear about the need to meet with a psychologist.
How to recognize a depressed state?
The main symptoms of depression in men are mainly manifested as follows:
- behavioral aggressiveness;
- isolation, lack of outgoing contact with others;
- the emergence of a tendency to excessive use of alcohol or drugs, which was not previously noticed;
- addiction to gambling.
Such signs perform protective functions, they help a person in depression forget about anxiety. However, in no case can one help to cope with the problem and return the man to a full life, indulging his “innovations”. This will only exacerbate the predicament of the individual. But one should not be afraid of a depressive state either.
By taking responsibility for the health of a family member in a timely manner and turning to a therapist, you can overcome a mental disorder in a short period of time and return it to a familiar joyful life.
Stress as the beginning of depression
Repeated studies in this area have been able to identify factors that trigger the onset of the disorder. Depression in men (causes, symptoms and its treatment deserve more detailed consideration below) arises from a variety of circumstances. The root causes of the development of a depressive state can vary greatly. This happens because stressful situations unequally affect the mental health of a person.
For one, an event could serve as an impetus for the development of the most severe form of the disease, and the other would not even attach special significance to the incident.
Causes of Depression
Among the fundamental levers of stress development, experts single out the following:
- dismissal from a high position, reduction of wages, financial difficulties;
- constant failures when meeting with the fairer sex, the absence of a serious relationship or personal life in general, divorce, regular disagreements with his wife;
- labor activity is associated with a constant expenditure of a psychoemotional resource, requires extreme concentration or nervous tension;
- illnesses of relatives, death of family members;
- receiving trauma, the inability to achieve the goal;
- physical weakness, powerlessness (including sexual);
- change of residence, moving to a new unfamiliar area;
- retirement, summing up the past years.
Whatever the cause of depression, symptoms and treatment in men of this ailment require the intervention of close indifferent people. In addition, it often happens that without obvious reasons a man falls into a depressed state. It turns out that once a disturbed psycho-emotional balance will constantly remind of itself, expressed in frustration as a response even to minor stressful experiences.
Problems come from childhood
There is another factor that provokes the development of a condition such as depression in men. Symptoms of the manifestation of the disease and its treatment largely depend on the hereditary predisposition. There is scientific evidence for this fact: the researchers were able to confirm the risk of acquiring the disease in a family where there is a tendency to experience.
Parents should be more attentive to sons, in the behavior of which they noticed a fairly low stress resistance. In childhood, passing the path of becoming an individual, it is still possible to help correct the psycho-emotional background of a man. In adulthood, achieving this is quite difficult.
Age Depressive Disorders in Men
Often the onset of depression has a significant relationship with the age stage in which the man is. In one age group or another, researchers found almost the same causes and symptoms of depression in men. This is also associated with social stereotypes that endow men with a whole list of roles and responsibilities. In accordance with this or that status and position held in society, the threshold of male responsibility rises, and representatives of the stronger sex begin to set themselves insurmountable tasks, which often leads to a crisis peak in connection with failures.
In adolescence
The first dangers threatening the emotional and mental background of men occur during puberty. Adolescence is associated in young men with the unknown in a new independent life, perhaps interesting, but certainly difficult. Indeed, in the near future it will be necessary to leave the parental center, take care of yourself, earn money and start a family where the man in it is assigned the role of the main, leader, defender.
One of the most common difficulties characteristic of this age category is entering a higher educational institution, especially if it is located in another city. Moving and facing the first problems without a strong shoulder of parents nearby often puts young men at a standstill. Often at the same age, the first love depression occurs in men. Symptoms of this condition as a whole do not differ from the general signs of the disorder.
Adult male depression
The next and probably the most famous is the so-called "midlife crisis." This concept can be called conditional, since it does not have an exact relationship to a specific age. Psychological difficulties in a mature man can occur both at 40 and at 30. The thing is that this age period is estimated by men as intermediate. Often they ask themselves: “Half the life has passed, so what's next? What have I achieved? What do I have? Has he made enough effort to make it better? ” It is quite possible the appearance of painful burdensome sensations. Most males by this age have material difficulties, career problems, while on their shoulders already lies the responsibility for well-being in the family.
How is postpartum depression in men?
The birth of children often introduces representatives of the stronger sex into a stupor. Psychologists have given this condition a special name - postpartum depression in men. Symptoms of this phenomenon are the following phenomena:
- Emotional outbursts expressed in scandals, reproaches and experiences.
- Lack of desire to communicate with the baby, avoiding any contact with the child.
- Immersion in work, constant delays after a hard day as a reason not to rush home.
- Fatigue, fatigue, irritability.
- An apathetic reaction to everything that happens, a lack of desire to do something.
- Insomnia, mental overwork.
- Detachment and isolation in personal space.
A rather dangerous phenomenon is this depression. Symptoms in men (professional psychologists will tell you how to get out of this condition) should be noticed first of all by the spouse, and she must take appropriate measures to overcome them. The wife’s task is to provide her husband with support, understanding and care, and to establish harmonious and trusting relationships. Only then will he be able to find a new meaning in his existence and find the strength within himself to continue his life's journey.
Senile depression in men
In retirement age, when the social significance of a man, as it seems to him, is under a huge question, the greatest risk of developing a depressive state arises . Unnecessity and professional unfitness due to the lack of progressive skills compared to young specialists is supplemented by thoughts that most of life has passed, only the end is ahead. In addition, the loss of relatives, friends and relatives affects the greater intensity of the experience.
Health problems in old age contribute to aggravating an already unhappy state. Many habitual actions become insurmountable in old age; this also encourages mental breakdown.
Causes of Spring Mental Disorder
A very common phenomenon is spring depression in men. Her symptoms do not indicate that the man is rethinking his destiny, summing up certain life results. In general, they do not differ from the characteristics of depressive mental disorder. Often men suffer from low mood, motor passivity, apathy.
Each potential cause of spring blues in men, psychologists explain as follows:
- Seasonal vitamin deficiency. After the winter emptying of all reserves of useful substances in the body, a lack of synthesis of neurotransmitters appears, which play an important role in maintaining the functioning of the nervous system. The lack of “sunny” vitamin D can also affect mood and cause symptoms of depression in men.
- The natural change in biorhythms accompanying the arrival of spring destabilizes the nervous system.
- Climatic changes, manifested by changes in atmospheric pressure, increased solar activity and a sharp change in weather conditions, can also affect the state of nerve receptors.
- Oxygen starvation accumulated during the winter and an inactive lifestyle worsen metabolic processes in the body, reducing the production of the known “hormones of happiness” - endorphins.
Treatment for depression in men without pills
To cope with male depression, you must first recognize the presence of a mental disorder. This form of the disease should not pass by the attention of specialists, which means that the help of psychologists cannot be avoided.
Firstly, the basis of effective treatment and rapid recovery is sincerity between the patient and the doctor. It is imperative that a man suffering from depression can accurately describe the symptoms of his disorder: condition, fears, causes, duration of illness, etc.
Secondly, today one can easily note a tendency to a decrease in the frequency of prescribing medications for the treatment of male depression. On the contrary, experts recommend not resorting to antidepressants. The best and long-term solution to the problem will be cardinal changes in the usual way of life. Which ones? Three tips from psychologists will help cure the male spleen that has arisen against the backdrop of life's difficulties:
- Exercise, good nutrition, good sleep. Sport helps to increase self-esteem, the production of endorphins and serotonin, regulates metabolic processes and improves well-being. By including additional components in the daily menu, you can get exactly the missing substances, the lack of which could cause the disorder.
- Setting only achievable goals and tasks. It is easy to believe in yourself if success will accompany any undertakings. To do this, you should not try to accomplish the impossible, you need to believe in yourself and do what is on the shoulder.
- Active participation in family life. Family - these are people who will support at any time. Positive emotions, joyful memories and beautiful dreams of the future will help the man to escape from internal worries and reconfigure to communicate with others.
The fight against depression in men is a responsible and difficult task for women. The main thing is to act together and help each other in overcoming life's hardships.