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Men and Depression
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Researchers estimate
that at least six million men in the United States suffer from a depressive disorder every year. Men and women often experience
depression differently and may have different ways of coping with the symptoms.
Men may be more willing to acknowledge fatigue, irritability, loss of interest in work or hobbies, and sleep disturbances rather than feelings of sadness, worthlessness,
and excessive guilt.
“I’d drink and I’d just get numb. I’d get numb to try
to numb my head. I mean, we’re talking many, many beers to get to that state where you could shut your head off, but
then you wake up the next day and it’s still there. Because you have to deal with it, it doesn’t just go away.
It isn’t a two-hour movie and then at the end it goes ‘The End’ and you press off. I mean it’s a twenty-four
hour a day movie and you’re thinking there is no end. It’s horrible.”
— Patrick McCathern, First Sergeant, U.S. Air Force, Retired
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Men are more likely than women to report alcohol and drug abuse or dependence in their lifetime; however, there is debate
among researchers as to whether substance use is a “symptom” of underlying depression in men, or a co-occurring
condition that more commonly develops in men. Nevertheless, substance use can mask depression, making it harder to recognize
depression as a separate illness that needs treatment.
Instead of acknowledging their feelings, asking for help, or seeking appropriate
treatment, men may turn to alcohol or drugs when they are depressed, or become frustrated, discouraged, angry, irritable and,
sometimes, violently abusive. Some men deal with depression by throwing themselves compulsively into their work, attempting
to hide their depression from themselves, family, and friends; other men may respond to depression by engaging in reckless
behavior, taking risks, and putting themselves in harm’s way.
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“When I was feeling depressed I was very reckless with my life. I didn’t
care about how I drove, I didn’t care about walking across the street carefully, I didn’t care about dangerous
parts of the city. I wouldn’t be affected by any kinds of warnings on travel or places to go. I didn’t care. I
didn’t care whether I lived or died and so I was going to do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. And when you take
those kinds of chances, you have a greater likelihood of dying.”
— Bill Maruyama, Lawyer
click here to download PDF file
 
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