At one time, doctors labeled clinical depression as a women’s disease. However, research shows that over 6 million men suffer from depression every year. Because of stereotypes, many men don’t consider the possibility that they suffer from depression. Below are three signs of depression in men and why so many men don’t receive therapy.
Sleep Problems
Difficulty sleeping is a common sign of depression in men. Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up too early are all signs of sleep problems. Some men can sleep for over 10 hours and still wake up feeling exhausted. The problem isn’t how long they sleep but the quality of their sleep.
Depression affects people’s normal sleep cycles and keeps them from getting restful sleep. Not only are sleep problems a sign of depression, but they can make the condition worse. When people don’t get enough sleep, they feel unmotivated and tired. They tend to keep these feelings inside and slide further into depression.
Persistent Sadness or Empty Feelings
Everyone feels sad from time to time. It’s a normal human emotion. However, a persistent feeling of sadness is often a symptom of depression. Some people don’t describe the feeling as sadness. Instead, they describe it as having an empty feeling.
People generally experience a number of other feelings besides sadness while they suffer from depression. Some of these include:
- Anxiousness
- Hostility
- Worthlessness
- Hopelessness
- Irritability
Sexual Dysfunction
Depression affects men in many ways. In fact, studies show that a loss of sexual desire is a common symptom of depression in men.
Men often feel stressed when they suffer from performance problems. Stress just makes the condition worse. On top of that, men are typically unwilling to admit when they have sexual performance issues. As a result, it’s a sign that most men tend to keep to themselves.
Why Don’t Doctors Catch Signs of Depression in Men?
Doctors don’t notice depression in men for several reasons. One of the most common is because men tend to downplay their symptoms. Societal stereotypes often make them feel weak or inferior to others. They don’t want to admit how much the symptoms affect their daily lives.
Men also try hard to keep their feelings hidden from doctors and loved ones. Even significant others tend to miss signs of depression in men. Sadly, depression therapy is available if they would simply seek it.
Let Us Help You Overcome Depression
At Pace Mental Health Houston, we help people just like you overcome mental health problems such as depression. It’s our goal to provide the help that you need to work through your problems one step at a time. Beyond depression, some of the other mental health issues that we treat include:
- Houston memory problems therapy
- Panic disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Social phobias
Don’t write off signs of depression in men. Get the mental health therapy that you need to put your life back on track. Reach out to the friendly staff at PACE Mental Health Houston today at 866.971.8423 for more information about our services.
