Symptoms of Depression in Men
It's not uncommon for symptoms of depression to go unrecognized and untreated in men. Men are more likely than women to keep their feelings to themselves and to avoid seeking professional help. Depression can also be difficult to diagnose in men, as they may not experience the typical signs and symptoms described in the The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), such as:
- Persistent sadness or feelings of emptiness
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Loss of interest in activities and hobbies
- Fatigue and loss of energy
- Physical symptoms such as headaches and digestive disorders
- Difficulty sleeping or oversleeping
- Thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts
“Men typically don't present with the characteristic signs and symptoms of depression as described in the DSM,” says Dr. John Ogrodniczuk, a psychotherapist active in the Men's Health Initiative of BC. Men will often present with other signs and symptoms, such as irritability, aggression, and addictive types of behaviours.”
Some examples of addictive behaviours are excessive drinking or drug use. Men may also use escaping behaviours such as:
- Working too much
- Promiscuity
- Driving too fast
Men are less likely to share their feelings or to come forward to a healthcare professional when they're experiencing symptoms of depression. “When men come to the physician's office, they often don't talk about feeling sad or hopeless,” says Dr. Ogrodniczuk. “They often talk about stress, and the things that they present with are not necessarily what we would expect to see in a depressed person per se. It could be they're more angry; they might say 'I seem to be getting in fights with my mates at work, I'm arguing a lot with my wife lately, I don't seem to have patience with my kids anymore.'”
Fortunately, a healthcare professional can often read between the lines and make a diagnosis of depression based on these types of symptoms. “Those are some of the things that we look for in men, when we suspect that perhaps they're suffering from depression,” says Dr. Ogrodniczuk.
