The NEW research into men suffering with depression
Depression.. one of the most taboo subjects of recent years.
It can manifest from such a huge range of factors (such as childhood trauma or negative life event) making it extremely difficult to determine cause and effect throughout all ages groups. Gender has also been found to have a significant effect of the prevalence of depression with females showing twice the number of lifetime diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) compared to men. The way depression tends to manifest also varies between genders with men showing a higher chance of feeling; tired, irritable and having a lack of libido/interest in hobbies or work. Secondly, although women are at a higher risk of attempted suicide, men are more likely to die from their attempts.
Us guys are notoriously bad at showing and sharing our negative emotions and tend to 'bottle them up' until they're going to come out one way or the other (usually through anger or complete absence). Half as many men than women are actively seeking psychotherapy through their GP to treat their depression, which is a terrifying number. This has therefore led to a recent push for psychologists to create some intervention strategies for men to combat their depression, hence the topic of this blog!
Therefore, within this post, I am going to cover the signs to look out for/how to intervene, and the possible avenues for treatment following a diagnosis.
Key signs to look out for with friends/family:
The key signs to look out for in men with depression are:
- Hopelessness and apathy (this sign is one of the easiest to spot as men who tend to cancel plans, show no sense of purpose are often over sleeping are quite apparent)
- Complaining about physical pain very often (depression can often manifest through physical symptoms in men creating a lack of enthusiasm for life/libido)
- Overeating or not wanting to eat at all (comfort can found through food which also creates a yo-yo effect through the self-hate that comes along with overeating)
How to intervene when you suspect someone may be suffering with depression:
Depression makes you feel like you are the only person in the world that feels this way, and that it is a life sentence. The idea that there is nowhere to turn consumes you embrace the downward spiral. Here are some tips on how to intervene:
- Never criticize the person for how they feel, this reinforces the negative spiral.
- Running simple errands for them can allow time for them to do things they enjoy with the hope to eventually find enjoyment in the simple tasks of everyday life.
- If you are worried about them, tell them you are worried about them. Be gentle but be persistent that they can get through this if they seek help (and if they won't do it for themselves, do it for you).
*One final key tip* is researching ways of moving from a SCARCITY mindset to an ABUNDANCE mindset.
Treatments for depression in men:
Treatment 1 - Meditation:
When the bigger picture is laid out in front of you, life seems all too fragile. The realization that everything in the universe is connected, but at the same time we have no idea why can be a tough pill to swallow. However, this really is the key to letting go of the pressures of life because it allows you to create the authentic life you want without feeling overwhelmed by the small details.
Meditation and presence has been shown to have a significant effect on mood and well-being. This is due to you being able to react to what is going on in front of you second by second, and not living through the past or future.
Watch this video for more information on the true power of presence:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foU1qgOdtwg
*(by the way, Eckhart Tolle is a real G)*
Treatment 2 - Exercise
I know what you're thinking, yeah right..
However, exercise has been found to have as much of an effect at treating depression as psychological or pharmacological treatments. With absolutely none of the side effects!
In a 2014 meta analysis on the effectiveness of exercise on treating depression, it was discovered that an exercise program used as an intervention has a significant effect on mood and well-being. The side effects of exercise include: weight loss, increased muscle size/strength and a better body image. Combining these together is a recipe for a sky rocket in your self-confidence and self-worth, which when this is low, is one of the contributing factors to the onset of depression in the first place.
Watch this video for more information on the exercise programs to follow for the treatment of depression: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj5HS9c7n4g
For more information on this post and similar posts, follow the Modern Mans Guide Blog and leave a comment!
References:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/men-and-depression/index.shtml
https://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/44570518/Gender_differences_in_major_depressive_d20160409-15730-k7kfmi.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAIWOWYYGZ2Y53UL3A&Expires=1506775856&Signature=UUdeqDnQiCC%2BipPy9q3QaMqn8ac%3D&response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3DGender_differences_in_major_depressive_d.pdf
https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=-bOVTz8HgDoC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=depression+men&ots=Ga4XnjzGwD&sig=AL8uRfR5Fox8oSFuqu2ZWjI5pEs#v=onepage&q=depression%20men&f=false
https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/intervention#2
http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1809754
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj5HS9c7n4g
http://www.epocrates.com/dacc/1310/ExerciseForDepressionCochrane1310.pdf
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