Everyone feels down from time to time. Life is not always simple, straightforward, and easy. Challenges are an inevitable part of the human experience and no one can escape them. However, sometimes these feelings progress into a loss of interest in life and an overwhelming sense of hopelessness. If these intense symptoms last for at least two weeks and interfere with daily activities, it may be signs of depression.
Depression is a serious mental health condition that affects the way a person thinks, feels, and manages daily activities like sleeping, eating, or working. Studies show an estimated 21 million adults in the United States, or 8.3% of the population, experienced at least one major depressive episode in the United States, or 8.3% of the population, experienced at least one major depressive episode in the past year. 14.5 million adults, or 5.7% of people, had a major depressive episode that severely impaired their ability to function.
While depression affects people regardless of age, gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, culture, or education level, women are diagnosed with depression more often. However, women receiving depression diagnoses more frequently does not necessarily mean they experience depression more often. Men are less likely to talk about feeling depressed or seek help when they show signs of depression. They are more likely to experience undiagnosed depression that is left untreated.
Untreated depression can cause lasting impacts on all areas of a man’s life. His poor mental health affects his physical health, his performance at work, his ability to show up for his family, his ability to care for himself, and more. Providing effective depression treatment for men starts with properly understanding depression in men. What are some of the symptoms and causes of the condition and how can men find the treatment they need to overcome their mental health struggles to live a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life?
Symptoms of Depression in Men
Identifying depression starts with knowing the symptoms. There are some common symptoms that many people with depression experience, including:
- Feeling sad, anxious, or “empty”
- Feeling pessimistic or hopeless
- Feeling guilty, helpless, or worthless
- Increased impulsivity
- Avoiding responsibilities
- Losing interest in or enjoyment of hobbies or activities
- Fatigue or lack of energy
- Difficulties concentrating or making decisions
- Difficulties sleeping (i.e. waking up too early, oversleeping, or waking up throughout the night)
- Changes in appetite
- Unplanned weight changes
- Physical aches and pains
- Thoughts of death
- Suicide attempts
Depression symptoms differ slightly between individuals but people must experience at least some of the above symptoms for at least two weeks to be diagnosed with depression.
Symptoms of depression in men are similar to those listed above but may also manifest in some unique ways compared to women. Some of these specific signs include:
- Increased irritability: Men experiencing depression may be more prone to irritability, frustration, or anger as a way to hide their feelings of sadness, anxiety, or hopelessness (i.e. anger as a “secondary” emotion)
- Social withdrawal: Men with depression are more likely to withdraw from friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances so they can handle their difficult feelings alone without having to ask for help or lean on anyone due to stigma
- Spending more time at work: Spending more time at work is a way for men with depression to isolate without seeming like they are isolated, so they might spend longer hours at the office or on the job site to avoid going home or being around others
- Risk-taking behavior: Men experiencing depression are more likely to engage in risky behavior such as reckless driving, fighting, or promiscuous behavior to avoid thinking about or feeling their negative emotions
- Alcohol or drug use: Men with depression are also more likely to turn to alcohol or drugs as a way to minimize or numb out their negative emotions so they can manage their responsibilities and keep from feeling negative emotions without relying on others for help
- Problems with sexual desire: Problems with sexual drive are common among men with depression because of a reduced interest.
- Suicide attempts: While women are more likely to be diagnosed with depression, men are four times more likely to attempt and/or die by suicide because they tend to struggle in silence
Men are more likely to suffer quietly without asking for help so it is important to understand these unique symptoms of depression in men. Knowing what to look for makes it easier to identify symptoms that may be more subtle or difficult to notice.
Causes of Depression in Men
Current research suggests there are a combination of factors at play when considering the causes of depression. These include biological factors, psychological factors, and social factors. How does each cause play a role in the development of depression?
- Biological factors: Biological factors include genetics and brain chemistry. There is no one biological factor responsible for the development of depression but there are some genetic components that leave people more susceptible to developing mental health disorders like depression.
- Psychological factors: Psychological factors include things like emotional dysregulation, trauma, or co-occurring mental health conditions. A man who has trouble with emotional regulation, experienced trauma, or has an existing mental health disorder is more likely to also develop depression.
- Social factors: Social factors, also called environmental factors, include a range of things such as societal expectations, stress from work, problems in relationships, financial difficulties, and more. These social factors can lead to depression on their own or exacerbate underlying biological or psychological factors.
Most people with depression experience some combination of causes. They are either at risk of developing depression because of a family history of mental health disorders or they have a psychological factor that makes them more susceptible. When social or environmental factors come into play, they trigger the condition and cause symptoms of depression to develop.
Treatment Options for Depression
Thankfully, depression is a treatable condition with the right intervention, care, and support and when appropriate medication. There are many mental health treatment programs available for men with depression. Levels of care include residential treatment, partial hospitalization programs (PHP), intensive outpatient programs (IOP), and counseling. Not all people have the time or financial capability to commit to a full-time program like residential or PHP, so IOP and counseling are fantastic alternatives.
Intensive outpatient programs offer a highly adaptable treatment program so men who want to overcome depression can find help without having to sacrifice their existing responsibilities. They include the same high-quality care provided by residential or PHP but allow patients to balance treatment hours with work, school, or home life along with other responsibilities.
IOP offers a truly individualized approach to mental health care, from treatment schedules and hours to the approaches used for treatment. Each facility offers a unique range of services for their clients. For example, some of the treatment approaches for depression in IOP include cognitive behavioral therapy, counseling, group therapy, mindfulness, exercise programs, medication management, and more.
The Role of Outpatient Programs for Men
Some intensive outpatient programs provide services for men or women only. Separating treatment by gender enables facilities to give a more specialized treatment experience for their clients. Men and women each have unique experiences and seeking mental health care at a facility that understands these differences is important for some individuals.
For example, Into the Light is an outpatient mental health treatment program for men in Redlands, CA. Our program recognizes the unique symptoms of depression that men experience and is equipped to address and treat those specific ways the condition manifests. We know that each individual deserves effective mental health care, and we see the ways that men benefit from a facility that caters to their unique needs.
Outpatient treatment for men removes the distractions that can come with a co-ed treatment environment. It also creates a space where men can drop their facade and find a true connection with and understanding from other men who experience the same struggles they do. They don’t have to succumb to the stigma they face in the outside world when they sit in a therapy group surrounded by men who live with and are working through the same symptoms.
Encouraging Action
Into the Light provides mental health treatment for men in Redlands, CA. Our outpatient programs provide services, including individual and group therapy, family programs, process groups, and more. We use a range of evidence-based modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive processing therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy. Into the Light offers a path to recovery that is right for you, no matter who you are.
If you are a man living with depression but unsure of how to find treatment, we are here to help. From the first time you reach out, our team is here to walk you through the process so you can discover what life looks like after depression. We are dedicated to helping you find a path to freedom from your symptoms so you can enjoy a fulfilling life.
Call us today at (877) 446-8685 or submit an online contact form today to speak with an admissions specialist. Our team will go over your treatment options and help you decide whether Into the Light is an option that works for you. You never need to struggle with your depression alone again – reach out today and step Into the Light.
