Signs of Depression In Men
On Jun 10, 2012, at 4:22 PM, KC Robinson wrote:
It was two years ago today that I lived my life completely unaware of what was to come tomorrow, June 11th. I told myself in the months that followed that I would one day try to do whatever I could to protect other children from this tragedy that I could not protect my own from. To try to save a life, even if at the time it doesn't want to be saved.
After much reading and research, that time is now and this is my first attempt to try to spread the word about the misconceptions of what depression in men looks like. The confusion I felt and the comment I heard most often from friends and family alike was that Dave didn't show any of the signs. Nobody had any idea. Nobody knew. I hope you will help me keep my promise, spread the knowledge there is about this illness, destroy the stigma of depression and the myths surrounding it, and pass this on.
Signs of Depression in Men
We’ve all seen the commercials on tv about depression – the woman sitting staring out the window, the man sitting with his head in his hands on the edge of his bed, the teen sitting in a dark staircase with tears rolling down their face. Yet in men, this isn’t always the picture of how they experience major depression. Below are signs of depression in men you may not have known. Please pass them on.
Fatigue, Chronic Headaches and Backaches – Depression is also a physical illness and men, more than women, report chronic physical pain as their number one symptom. Men often will report feelings of physical exhaustion. Often they are experiencing sleep problems such as insomnia, waking often, or waking early.
Slowed Speech, Movement and Thinking – Negative thoughts become so pervasive as the depression deepens, they can slow men’s normal ability to speak, move and think. They can seem constantly distracted or slow to respond.
Difficult to Focus & Indecision – Negative thoughts begin to constantly intrude on the mind, making it difficult to focus on the task, thought or decision at hand.
Hostility, Anger, Aggression – Once withdrawn, men will display these traits if they feel pressured by friends or family to rejoin society. These strong emotions also temporarily demonstrate to himself that he is still strong and capable, able to fix the “problem” on his own.
Stress & Anxiety – Men may report feeling stressed, instead of depressed, as it’s more socially accepted to express those emotions than depression.
Irritability – Men often do not display sadness as is seen on tv. Crankiness or excessive irritability are more often felt due to the barrage of negative thoughts they are experiencing.
Substance Abuse – Using the “medicine” available to them to mask uncomfortable feelings, men often turn to drugs or alcohol instead of seeking medical care.
The first step toward treatment is always to seek help. Suicide is a permanent decision to a temporary, and changeable, situation. My husband is now an Angel of God, our guardian dear. He is with us every day and he is in this message to you and yours. Count your blessings every day, before they've gone, and flown away.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
It was two years ago today that I lived my life completely unaware of what was to come tomorrow, June 11th. I told myself in the months that followed that I would one day try to do whatever I could to protect other children from this tragedy that I could not protect my own from. To try to save a life, even if at the time it doesn't want to be saved.
After much reading and research, that time is now and this is my first attempt to try to spread the word about the misconceptions of what depression in men looks like. The confusion I felt and the comment I heard most often from friends and family alike was that Dave didn't show any of the signs. Nobody had any idea. Nobody knew. I hope you will help me keep my promise, spread the knowledge there is about this illness, destroy the stigma of depression and the myths surrounding it, and pass this on.
Signs of Depression in Men
We’ve all seen the commercials on tv about depression – the woman sitting staring out the window, the man sitting with his head in his hands on the edge of his bed, the teen sitting in a dark staircase with tears rolling down their face. Yet in men, this isn’t always the picture of how they experience major depression. Below are signs of depression in men you may not have known. Please pass them on.
Fatigue, Chronic Headaches and Backaches – Depression is also a physical illness and men, more than women, report chronic physical pain as their number one symptom. Men often will report feelings of physical exhaustion. Often they are experiencing sleep problems such as insomnia, waking often, or waking early.
Slowed Speech, Movement and Thinking – Negative thoughts become so pervasive as the depression deepens, they can slow men’s normal ability to speak, move and think. They can seem constantly distracted or slow to respond.
Difficult to Focus & Indecision – Negative thoughts begin to constantly intrude on the mind, making it difficult to focus on the task, thought or decision at hand.
Hostility, Anger, Aggression – Once withdrawn, men will display these traits if they feel pressured by friends or family to rejoin society. These strong emotions also temporarily demonstrate to himself that he is still strong and capable, able to fix the “problem” on his own.
Stress & Anxiety – Men may report feeling stressed, instead of depressed, as it’s more socially accepted to express those emotions than depression.
Irritability – Men often do not display sadness as is seen on tv. Crankiness or excessive irritability are more often felt due to the barrage of negative thoughts they are experiencing.
Substance Abuse – Using the “medicine” available to them to mask uncomfortable feelings, men often turn to drugs or alcohol instead of seeking medical care.
The first step toward treatment is always to seek help. Suicide is a permanent decision to a temporary, and changeable, situation. My husband is now an Angel of God, our guardian dear. He is with us every day and he is in this message to you and yours. Count your blessings every day, before they've gone, and flown away.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)