Psychologist explains the symptom of depression that’s unique to men
When you think of depression, you probably think of a person who can’t get out of bed and is plagued by thoughts of despair and misery.
However, some experts say the mental illness, which affects 21 million adults in the U.S., may cause a much wider range of symptoms than most people realize.
Surprisingly, this is partly determined by your gender.
Olesya Luraschi, a Harvard-educated psychologist and leadership coach, says that the traditional symptoms of depression that most people recognize are mainly found in women.
She says male depression “looks completely different” from female depression, on a TikTok channel that has been viewed more than 5 million times.
Because men are raised to be tough, they are more likely to withdraw from their social network and hobbies, immerse themselves in their work, and have outbursts of anger rather than express their sadness when they are depressed.
Women, on the other hand, are more likely to suffer from concentration problems, sleep problems and depression.
In men, Mrs. Luraschi said“There’s typically a denial of pain, so with male depression, men won’t talk about sadness, they won’t talk about their pain.”
Other experts agree.
“We taught boys not to cry; so instead of crying, they become angry and threatening’ Dr. Andrew Angelinosaid the chairman of psychiatry at Howard County General Hospital.
Robin Williams struggled with depression his entire life, his wife, Susan Schneider Williams, said in a 2016 article in the journal Neurology
Although women are diagnosed with depression nearly twice as often as men, many experts say cases in men often go unnoticed because they are less likely to seek help.
Men are four times more likely to die by suicide, according to John Hopkins. They are also responsible for eight out of 10 suicides in America.
One well-known man who has struggled with the mental illness is beloved actor Robin Williams, according to his wife. Susan Schneider Williams.
After being diagnosed with an aggressive form of dementia called Lewy body disease, Williams committed suicide.
The Gender differences in depression can be explained by societal differences and some biological differences.
Because women deal with hormonal fluctuations around their monthly cycle, pregnancy and menopause, they are more likely to experience disturbed sleep, mood swings and low self-esteem than men, according to Mayo Clinic Staff.
This could lead to women with depression feeling sad more quickly, having more energy and having more difficulty concentrating.
Men have less estrogen in their system and are typically more affected by hormones they produce in higher amounts, such as testosterone, which can cause aggression, impulsiveness and feelings of anger.
One of the most common ways men exhibit depression has to do with slowly changing their routine and isolating themselves, Ms. Luraschi said. She added that once men feel isolated, they may have outbursts of anger because it is easier for them to express than sadness.
“Anger is one of the few socially acceptable negative emotions that men have typically been conditioned to feel,” she said.
For example, a depressed man may spend more and more time at work and withdraw from friends and family.
“This is very common, so if you see this in yourself or others, know that you are not alone,” Ms Luraschi said. ‘It’s good to realize that male depression is nothing like female depression.’