Ballerific Health! Men Matter: Depression and Men

The death of beloved actor and comedian Robin Williams brought to light a subject that we in general tend to “sweep under to rug” or ignore completely…depression. Yes, I touched on depression in black women a few weeks ago, but what we fail to realize is that depression can affect anyone; men included and we have to take action. Men experience depression differently than women. When a man has depression, he has trouble with daily life and loses interest in anything for weeks to months at a time. A lot of times, no one realizes the exact caliber of what a man is dealing with because they are reluctant to talk about how they are feeling.  Depression can affect any man of any age, but most of them do not recognize, acknowledge, nor seek help for their depression. Although women are more likely to ATTEMPT suicide, men are more likely to DIE by suicide. The bright side to all of this is that depression is a real and TREATABLE illness, and with the right treatment, most men can get better and gain back their interest in work, family, and hobbies. The best way to treat and/or deal with an illness is to educate yourself on the facts. Once you are equipped with the facts, you are in the position to help yourself or a loved one.

Forms of Depression

Major Depression: Severe symptoms that interfere with a man’s ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy most aspects of life. It can occur once in a person’s lifetime, but a person is more likely to have several episodes during their life.

Psychotic Depression: Includes the same symptoms as Major Depression, but the person will also experience hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and insomnia.  25% of people admitted into hospitals for depression suffered from psychotic depression.

Dysthymia or Persistent Depressive Disorder: Symptoms that last a long time (2 years or longer) but less severe than major depression.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): symptoms such as weight gain and an increased desire to be alone that only affects a person during certain times of the year due to sunlight deprivation. Winter symptoms may differ from summer symptoms.

Minor Depression: Similar to major depression and dysthymia, but symptoms are less severe and may not last as long.

Signs of Depression

*thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts

*overeating or not eating at all

*aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems

*feeling hopeless, irritable, anxious, or angry

*inability to meet certain responsibilities such as: work, caring for family, or other important activities

*fatigue

*not being able to sleep, or sleeping too much

*feeling sad or “empty”

*withdrawal from social activities

Causes of Depression

Stress- the loss of a loved one, a strained relationship, or any stressful situation may trigger depression in some men

Genes-men with a family history of depression may be more likely to develop it than those whose family members do not have the illness

Brain Chemistry- the brain scans of people with depression look differently than the scans of those without depression

**although depression can be cause by the above factors alone, it is usually triggered by a combination of them all

Treating Depression

The first step in treating depression is to visit a doctor or mental health professional. Explain the symptoms to the doctor, when they began and how often, and if there is a family history of depression.

Medications

While antidepressants work well to treat depression, they can take several weeks in order to begin working and come with a few side effects.

The side effects include: headaches, nausea, difficulty sleeping or nervousness, agitation, and sexual issues and will lessen over time. The labels of antidepressants are equipped with a black box label (the most serious type of warning a prescription drug can have) due to the serious risks associated with them. Anyone taking an antidepressant should be monitored closely, especially when first beginning.

Therapy is also an effective treatment of depression. By talking to someone you may begin to understand your thoughts, what you are going through, and how to get through it.

Get Help

Seek help as soon as possible

In case of emergencies seek help at your nearest hospital

Don’t try to do too many things at once

Spend time with family, friends, and loved ones

Do not make important decisions until you are feeling better

www.nami.org ;

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK 1-800-273-8255; TTY 1-800-799-4TTY 1-800-799-4889

Helping a Loved One

Talk to him, LISTEN

NEVER ignore suicidal comments!

Offer support, patience, understanding, and encouragement

Encourage outside activities, but don’t push too hard or force anything upon him

Men work so hard on maintaining that macho, “I can do anything” attitude that when something disturbs them, they are afraid to speak up. Robin Williams wasn’t alone, Abraham Lincoln, Heath Ledger, Jim Carrey, & Kurt Cobain are just a few of the many men in the spotlight whom have suffered from some sort of depression. While some are able to get treatment and become better, most are too afraid and ultimately meet an untimely death because of that. Remember with the right treatment, YOU CAN REGAIN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE! xoxo