Depression in Men

Studies have shown that although depression is seen more frequently in women, men are not immune to this condition either. The signs and symptoms of depression in men are quite different from that in women. Signs of depression in men include irritability, anger, aggressiveness, a tendency for self destruction, drug abuse, and relationship problems. As per the socio-cultural norms of today’s world, men are viewed as the stronger sex. In their attempts to appear strong and infallible, they tend to cover up their emotions and problems. They also tend to view depression as a personality weakness and cover up the signs of depression like feelings of anger, suicidal tendencies, and aggressiveness. Elderly men experience depression upon retirement from their job. This is particularly true if they were the main wage earners and providers for their family. The loss of a job can interfere with their self esteem and they may resent having to depend upon someone else. Similarly death of near and dear ones, illnesses can also trigger depression in this class of men. These days, depression is also seen in young boys and adolescents. The reasons for this could range from problems in the family, academic pressure. They exhibit symptoms like withdrawal, clingy behavior, aggressiveness, and suicidal tendencies. Depression is a common problem in men although it is often masked under a façade of strength and security. The problem needs to be identified and remedied appropriately.