Dealing With Depression And Men
By: Rev.David B. Smith

It is estimated that there are over three million men in the united states alone that suffer from depression. However, only a little percentage of those men are ever probable to state the fact that they are depressed. The problem is bound up with the male image of Western culture. The man is said to be “the rock” upon which others trust, and any scent of weakness is likely to be understood in terms of ‘femininity’. Healing starts when men understand that suffering from depression doesn’t make them any less of a man.

For many generations men have worked on perfecting their techniques for covering up their feelings. Perhaps this has been born of the need to be able to get on with their work no matter what regardless of the demands they might be under. Men also easily turn to drugs, alcohol, sex, or more work, moreso than women, as mechanisms for avoiding having to deal with unwanted feelings They assume that they can get over their depression by trying to give themselves something else to fixate on. This cannot, of course, really resolve the issue.

Men are less likely than women to hunt for treatment for their depression, though women are often just as doubtful to acknowledge that there is a problem. This is why the help of family and fiends is so central in the healing process.

Men can hide their depression well. Unlike women, they really do want to be left alone and not for purposes of reaching out eventually in good time. Men will hide their depression because they feel disgrace and fear. Many of those who are familiar to a man who has committed suicide will recall that they didn’t have a clue - a awful indication of the power of some men to hide their feelings. Such men toil silently and alone against their depression until it totally overwhelms them.

A man’s friends need to be attentive of the symptons of depression. Does it seem like he is endeavoring to change to much? Is he oversleeping, not sleeping at all, displaying continual tension or stress, and even anger. Exploring these issues with a male partner or family member can be tricky. If a man is really battling depression, you may need to tread slowly.

Be careful not to push too hard or too quickly when it comes to finding help, as you may be met with rage and denial. In the preliminary stage of depression, the subject is in pain but generally truly does not know why. People will blame circumstances. Adolescents will blame their home lives, and married men will generally blame their wives. Be aware while the man may recongise that their pain is not normal, this does not mean that they will be instantaneously open to the idea of therapy.

If you want to help someone seek treatment, they are going to have to make that verdict themselves. All you can do is tell them that you are worried about them. Do more listening than talking. Show your support by telling them that you love or care for them. Ideally, make them feel that this is something that the two of you are going to take on together, and that they are not alone.

It is estimated that there are over three million men in the united states alone that suffer from depression. However, only a little percentage of those men are ever expected to state the fact that they are depressed. The problem is caught up with the male image of Western culture. The man is said to be “the rock” upon which others count on, and any signal of weakness is likely to be understood in terms of ‘femininity’. Healing starts when men conceive that suffering from depression doesn’t make

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