mensmentalheath

Male depression is real: Signs in men and how to take control of their mental health,

Depression signs in men

Definition

Depression looks different on everybody, but especially in men. The depression males face is often overlooked and goes unnoticed because it looks different from women’s signs. Men are often taught to hide their pain and struggles so that they appear to be strong, whether that’s for their family or friends around them. This is why this article will talk about different ways men mask their emotions and how to teach evidence-based strategies to help improve their mental health.

Why Male Depression often goes unnoticed (Signs of burnout)

Depression in men may look like anger or frustration but it’s much deeper than that. Due to men showing there emotions in this way it’s been disregarded for years because it’s looked at as week or an exaggeration so a lot of times it’s bottled up and doesn’t show up again until it rears it’s ugly head. Society has taught men that they need to control there emotions and bury them so that they can provide for there family and do other activities as well. But what if I told you that admitting that emotional pain or weight you feel doesn’t make you a loser or put a burden on anyone else it actually makes you stronger and shows emotional inelegance.

Recognizing the signs/ what to do? (Support Groups)

Depression doesn’t have a time clock that says when you should or shouldn’t be depressed. A lot of times it’s onset and becomes a rush of emotions quickly which makes the struggle feel even more real. Depression can look like a multitude of different things including a lack of energy or loss of interest, irritability, isolation and substance abuse. We try and pay attention very closely if someone has expressed that they have been abusing alcohol or drugs because that can be a slippery slope. If you notice any of these symptoms starting to persist and affecting your daily life it is probably best to talk to someone like a therapist or psychiatric professional because feeling that way for longer than 2 weeks isn’t normal.

Cost of ignoring your mental health

Ignoring depression can not only have devastating effects for you, but it can also have devastating effects for your family as well. The reason I say this is because when you’re going through a rough time, the people around you are supposed to build you up and make you feel better about the coming future. Men who suppress their emotions on a social level tend to be more violent to things but less reactive when committing vicious crimes because their brains are so mentally checked out. The link between male depression and suicide is high because a lot of times men try to cover their mental health struggles up or devote time to their job so they don’t have to think about all that stuff. I’m here to say it’s okay to cry and be vulnerable, and you shouldn’t feel weak for that because it’s a beautiful thing. Make sure you check on your friends, especially your guy friends.

Men and Anger: Why vulnerability is the new masculinity

Males experience similar emotional experiences and feelings in life. A lot of times they shied away from it because it’s looked at as not masculine for whatever reason. These common emotions are anger, irritability, depression, and hopelessness. These negative emotions make men extremely withdrawn from how they’re feeling, which is why they tend to lash out, which makes others misunderstand their emotions. Men who express their emotions are looked at as feminine and weak, and they grow up to hide and resent the way that they’re feeling. Nowadays society looks at strength and power as the most powerful and controlling emotions because men tend to hide behind these feelings, especially when feeling confronted or cornered.

Men’s approaches to mental health are heavily influenced by traditional beliefs and cultural norms. Emotional control and toughness are taught to men at an early age so they are conditioned to know that showing their emotions and the way they feel is wrong. It’s like when your son gets hurt on his bike and he starts crying because he scraped his knee. Instead of making sure he’s okay and giving him a hug, as his mom, you decide to tell him to tough it out and stop crying because he’s a man. Who’s to say that when he’s older and he decides to get mad at his wife and do something he may regret because his emotions explode, being told to suppress them for so long it all comes to a head? While this may seem like an overreach, those small situations when we are children tend to set us up for how we respond to people and things in the future.

Criteria Many don’t realize that this jumpstarts an insecurity in men that is hard to fix once they are grown. These behaviors that were suppressed can come out to be explosive behaviors later that may come out in gambling or driving. That also puts a fear of judgement and stigma that if a man does show his emotions, he is a loser and cannot process things correctly, which is the furthest thing from the truth. There are several organizations that offer emotional services for men looking to build emotional awareness and improve their mental health. You should take a look in the mirror and see if you meet any of these criteria and how to stop uncomfortable situations from happening because you couldn’t find a healthy way to express your emotions.

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