depression in men
Depression in men is a mental disorder characterized by a loss of the ability to enjoy, motor retardation and impaired thinking.
Such a condition can provoke heart ailments and lead to other serious diseases. The disorder is treatable and affects many members of the stronger sex.
Necessary information
Male depression is not a sign of weakness or unmanliness. Mood swings are the norm for any person, it serves as a reaction to life's troubles, disappointments, failures and losses.
A mental disorder occurs if the feeling of despair and hopelessness drags on.
Most often, depression is invisible to others, even the man himself may not be aware of his condition, paying attention only to back pain, insomnia, problems with potency, migraine.
What it is
Depression is a painful state of depression, despair, melancholy and hopelessness, which is chronic, protracted.
How it manifests itself - symptoms and signs
Male depression is harder to recognize than female depression. This is explained by the denial of feelings: men hide them from others and even from themselves, disguising them as unusual behavior.
Signs of male depression that serve as a defense to help you forget about disturbing thoughts:
- aggressive behavior - a man can verbally or physically insult loved ones;
- isolation, no communicative interaction with people;
- addiction to alcohol and narcotic substances, which had not been noticed before by a man;
- propensity to gambling;
- risk appetite, manifested in extreme sports or driving a car at high speed.
The symptoms of male and female depression are very different, they have one thing in common - self-medication. The stronger sex is inclined to blame others for their own problems.
Men tend to fall into anger, become irritable, quick-tempered, suspicious and conflict.
There is anxiety and excitement, the desire to control everything, the fear of admitting one's own weakness, uncertainty, despair.
A manifestation of depression is not only the emotional state of a man, there is a violation of digestion, pain in the back and head, insomnia.
Such symptoms are not amenable to conventional treatment, since the resulting somatic diseases are the result of mental disorders.
Initially, it is necessary to normalize the psycho-emotional state. How depression manifests itself, symptoms:
| Apathy | A man ceases to be interested in whatever it is, he refuses activities that used to give pleasure. Communication with friends and loved ones is reduced to a minimum. In severe cases, a person does not leave the house and refuses to do at least something |
| Bad mood | A similar symptom is often not noticed, since pessimism, a gloomy disposition, or irritability do not seem strange. The feeling of hopelessness of the situation, melancholy and lack of joy for several months requires the help of a psychotherapist. Otherwise, not knowing how to get out of a depressive state, a man can immerse himself in computer games. Become addicted to drugs and alcohol, get involved in dangerous sports, or risk your health by getting involved in adventures |
| Inhibition (thinking and motor) | As the condition becomes more severe, it is difficult for a man to force himself to focus on any task. He prefers to do work that does not require much mental effort. Later, the slowdown in thinking is noticed by those around them - they conclude that they do not correspond to their position or even that they are mentally handicapped. Patients may refuse to get out of bed due to reduced motor activity. |
| Somatic manifestations | Weakness, migraine, palpitations appear, appetite, sleep and sexual life are disturbed. Sweating increases, stomach, heart and other organs hurt |
The earlier depression is detected, the more successful and shorter its therapy will be. In advanced cases, it is impossible to do without the help of a psychotherapist.
What could be the reasons
It is not possible to identify any one reason for the appearance of depression.
Usually, the complex effect of biological, social and psychological factors, hereditary predisposition leads to the emergence of such a condition.
As well as relationships with others and lifestyle. These factors shape the attitude to life, affect the emotional state.
Many leading experts point out that depression is primarily the result of social interaction between people.
Men's depression, unlike women's, always has a "triggering" circumstance that caused a deterioration in mental state.
Each age group has problems that affect the psyche devastatingly:
| Up to 25 years old | Causes can include illness or injury, the death of a friend or relative, a failed relationship, the birth of a child. |
| At 30 and over | A depressive state can be caused by an assessment of achievements, job loss, breakup of relationships, divorce, a serious illness (one's own or loved ones). Cardinal change of residence, bankruptcy |
| After 40 years | Frustration can provoke thoughts of wasted years, lost opportunities, elusive youth. Financial difficulties or divorce contribute to the deterioration of mental health |
| In men over 50 | The occurrence of mental disorders can cause problems with potency and intimate life, lost performance, reduced social activity. Loneliness, loss of friends, relatives, wife, especially if the loss is irreparable |
At the age of 50 years and later, it is most difficult to pull a man out of a pathological state, since there is no motivation to change his lifestyle and undergo a course of therapy.
Existing concomitant diseases significantly aggravate the general condition. The most common causes of occurrence:
| Death or death of someone close to you | Depression is formed due to experiences, especially if a man tends to hide his emotional state |
| Injury or serious illness | The stronger sex is hard going through even a temporary loss of working capacity. Accepting the help of other people for men means admitting their own weakness. |
| Breaking up a long-term relationship, divorce | Men do not take parting well, which is explained by the tendency to hide feelings. Post-divorce depression develops gradually, against the background of aggressive behavior and alcohol consumption, months after the event |
| Job loss, financial problems | For most men, the fundamental factor in life is self-realization. Complications and difficulties at work, in business provoke mental and health disorders |
| The birth of a child | According to statistics, approximately 4% of men suffer from postpartum depression. This is explained by drastic changes in lifestyle, which are due to the birth of a baby. Serious men are tensely experiencing responsibility for the child. Infantile - the need to subordinate one's own life to the needs of the newborn. For many, drastic changes in the appearance and character of the wife are a real disaster. The resulting disorder in men is psychological in nature and after 1-6 months passes by itself |
| Loneliness | Few people can calmly endure isolation from friends and family. The inability to communicate with loved ones can lead to serious mental disorders |
| Disorder of intimate life | The value of sex for men is enormous. Complications and difficulties in this area contribute to the development of complexes. Infertility, impotence, diseases of the reproductive system cause nervous strain and depression |
How to get a man out of depression
Getting rid of depression primarily involves assessing a person's condition. In simple cases, you can be satisfied with the help of loved ones and the desire of a man to start therapy.
In severe cases, accompanied by apathy, thoughts of suicide or suicidal intentions, only a specialist can help with movement disorders.
The therapy includes three main steps:
How to help a man get out of depression? It requires love, attention, support and patience. You need to listen carefully and reassure that all difficulties are temporary.
You can not blame or ignore the words about suicide. You should distract a man with a walk, watching a movie or an event that will give him pleasure.
Is it possible to go out on my own
It is quite possible to get out of depression without the help of a psychotherapist, if the disease is at an early stage, the man realizes what is happening to him and decides to get rid of the problem.
For this you need:
| Change lifestyle | Refusal of alcohol, coffee, fast food is supposed. You need to start eating right and taking vitamins, avoid stressful situations, overstrain of the nervous system. Sleep should last at least eight hours a day |
| Go in for sports, increase physical activity | Daily training provides an improvement in mental state, it is an easy way to relieve tension, throw out negativity and aggression. Physical activity helps relieve stress while improving appearance |
| Learn to express your feelings and emotions | For the stronger sex, it is especially important to be able to pronounce, live emotions, not hide them from others and yourself |
| Find a way to calm down and fulfill yourself | They will help to calm down and at the same time bring satisfaction to doing your favorite sports, hobbies, meditation, yoga. Any activity that gives pleasure will help restore the psyche. |
Traditional medicine has developed techniques for dealing with depression. The modern approach involves the combined use of drug, non-drug and psychotherapy.
Doctors advice:
- visit your doctor regularly;
- during each visit, describe in detail your condition and life difficulties;
- do not give up antidepressants, they give excellent results with a minimum of side effects and are not addictive;
- the prescribed drugs must be taken regularly, as recommended by the doctor;
- you can not independently determine the duration of the course without consulting with your doctor.
Numerous studies have confirmed the efficacy and safety of the latest generation of antidepressants.
The damage that depression does to a person's material and emotional well-being far outweighs the side effects of medication.
The result from the use of antidepressants can be seen only 2-4 weeks after the start of the intake.
Doctors' advice to the patient's relatives on how to get a guy out of depression:
Basic treatment
Drug treatment helps to get rid of mild, moderate and severe manifestations of depression.
It can be carried out with antidepressants - Fluoxetine, Sertraline, Citalopram, Paroxetine, Mianserin and others. They should only be used as directed by a doctor.
Auxiliary actions
Psychotherapy is an adjunct to the main treatment. It cannot be an alternative to antidepressants, but it helps the patient develop self-regulation skills.
This ensures in the future an adequate response to crisis situations without sinking into depression.
In addition to medicines and psychotherapy, animal therapy, art therapy, music therapy, phototherapy, films, and aromatherapy contribute to getting rid of depression.
Will vitamins help?
Often, it is the lack of certain vitamins and minerals that provokes an oppressed state of the psyche.
Research scientists have proven that the functioning of the brain and diet are closely interrelated.
The most powerful weapon in the fight against depression are B vitamins, which have a beneficial effect on the activity of the nervous system.
Photo: foods that contain B vitamins
They are involved in the synthesis of vital compounds, help to absorb nutrients.
The group contains 8 complementary vitamins, so complexes designed to combat depression include them all:
- B1 (thiamine);
- B3 (niacin);
- B5 (pantheonic acid);
- B6 (pyridoxine);
- B7 (vitamin H or biotin);
- B9 (folic acid);
- B12 (cyanocobalamin).
You can get these vitamins exclusively with food (or taking vitamin complexes), they are not synthesized inside the body.
Many B vitamins are found in chicken meat, legumes, bananas, fish, squid, cod liver, bread.
And also in greens, peppers, brown rice, dairy products, nuts and potatoes. Vitamins A, E, C, D3 will help get rid of depression or prevent it.
Complexes will help to defeat depression and restore lost working capacity:
- Vitrum Superstress;
- Neuromultivit;
- Doppelgerz Active Magnesium;
- Invigorates.
The action of the drugs is to increase resistance to stress, normalize sleep, relieve nervous and mental strain, improve well-being and appearance.
Is it hereditary
A certain predisposition to depression is inherited. If any of the immediate relatives suffered from mental disorders, then the likelihood that a similar fate will overtake a man increases.
But the relationship of hereditary predisposition and the occurrence of depression has not yet been fully proven.
What you need to know the nuances if depression in men
Mental disorders (depression) in men are found much less frequently than in women. This is due to thinking, perception of the environment and the upbringing received.
The stronger sex is dominated by logic, abstract and rational thinking, so it is easier for them to assess circumstances objectively.
Men are looking for a way out of the situation, they have less developed emotionality, clearly defined goals and ways to achieve them.
Video: depression. Way out of the psycho-spiritual crisis
Depression occurs if a man cannot find a way out of the situation and feels helpless when the life script “breaks”.
It is difficult to determine a clear algorithm of actions and say exactly what a woman should do if her beloved is depressed, since all cases are unique.
The main thing is to listen and understand a man, to teach him to express his emotions, not to hide them.
A significant role in the occurrence of depression is played by upbringing and the stereotype that prevails in society that "men do not cry", "showing your feelings means being weak."
This leads to a denial of the disease that has appeared or attempts to cope with it alone.
Which further aggravates the situation, leads to alcohol abuse, the emergence of drug addiction.
Cardiovascular diseases, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract develop, potency is impaired, and the risk of stroke increases significantly.
If after a divorce
It is divorce that is the most common cause of suicide among the stronger sex. This is explained by the fact that the problems that a man faces after a divorce, a new love, depression, exhaust him physically and emotionally.
This is especially facilitated by the stoic male “I can handle it myself” and the denial of the seriousness of the mental disorder. Fear of appearing weak by showing emotions.
Male post-divorce depression is due to the need for support and the limited availability of it.
In the absence of professional help, "black" becomes "terribly black" for months, and sometimes for years.
seasonal cause
Men and women are susceptible to seasonal depression. Beautiful ladies and representatives of the stronger sex feel such an affective disorder in different ways.
Men are characterized by:
- chronic fatigue syndrome;
- changes in body weight;
- pain in the back and abdomen;
- passion for bad habits;
- erectile dysfunction;
- negative thoughts.
Changing the daily routine, aromatherapy, positive thoughts and lots of light will help to cope with this condition. Give up important decisions for this period, get a pet, communicate with others.
How to deal with deep
It is impossible to cope with a serious, severe disorder on your own. The qualified help of the psychotherapist is necessary.
If post-wedding
It is common for women to become depressed after marriage, but sometimes it is also observed in men.
This is due to stress due to lifestyle changes, emotional decline after the celebration, a feeling of emptiness inside.
You can prevent the disorder by sharing experiences with your wife, maintaining intimacy and a good relationship with her.
Depression in men is a severe mental disorder that requires mandatory treatment and lifestyle changes.
Most of the stronger sex, being in a depressed state, do not receive qualified assistance.
In some cases, there is not even sympathy or participation from close people, men are forced to deal with their problem alone.
