Essay Sample on Depression: Men vs Women - Symptoms, Coping, & Causes

Introduction

Depression can be defined as the state of dejection where an individual is psychologically disturbed due to an adverse reaction. While men and women share common signs of depression, various studies have proven that men and women have various differences when it comes to how they display their feelings while depressed, how they cope with the conditions and what causes both genders to be depressed. In this article I will address some of the similar symptoms displayed by both men and women; I will also look into the differences and explain the role that masculinity plays in gender difference of this illness.

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Similarities

In both genders, the depression is always manifested in almost similar ways. When an individual is depressed, they are more likely to display lack of interest in whatever they are doin; this will include; missing work, slow response to what is usually their favorite activities and a drop in their performance. While in depression both genders will find it hard to concentrate on a specific task because their attention will be drawn away (Stets& Straus, 2017). A feeling of guilt will also be associated with depression as the patient will be inclined to feel that they are responsible for what happened to them. They will develop and slow speed when it comes to writing since they are unable to focus on the task at hand, they will also have a loss of appetite and come may even experience fatigue and sullenness. At extreme cases, the affected may develop thoughts of suicide or kill the other person who might be the cause. Most of these feelings will lead to desperation, and the individual is more susceptible to losing control. Other clinical symptoms may include the increase in heartbeat, high body temperature and even shaking.

Differences

While men are known to develop depression due to some external factors such as excessive stress and failure to achieve specific goals in life, the male may also be depressed by other expectations surrounding him and how people view them, on the contrary women are mainly in depression due to things such puberty and pregnancy. As the female approaches the teen stage, they are more likely to develop depression due to the hormonal changes that accompany it, they will start paying more attention to the changes, and when they don't meet the expectation, they will find themselves entangled in a depression (Skovlund, Morch, Kessing, &Lidegaard, 2016). As the pregnancy heads to its climax, a female will face a drastic change in how they behave and the ability to contain stress, the nature of the pregnancy sends them through a mood swing which may end up in depression, postpartum depression is another cause of depression in women, menopause and premenstrual difficulties. Other known health issues also contribute to how women end up depression, such things as cultural stressors where they are required by the society to take some duties or undergo some rites which they may not like can result in them having depression, irregular eating patterns may also cause the stress.

Perception of Depression in Both Genders

A study carried out by the American Psychiatric Association showed that about sixteen percent of adults are affected by depression at any given year. Women are affected more than men by this rate of depression. The study also revealed that while men are conservative about their mental health, women are more likely to express their feelings when in pain, this feeling may be expressed by crying, which viewed as feminine by most men; women will often display signs such as irritability, lack of sleep and excessive. Generally, men will tend to hide when they are hurting; this to them is a sign of masculinity which prompts them to be strong. Research has shown that most men might not be aware that they are suffering from depression until the condition becomes advanced, this lack of awareness makes it more fatal for men to deal with depression compared to women (Lenz & McCarthy, 2015). Due to the fear of being ashamed or showing weakness, many times men will choose to commit suicide rather than deal with the situation. Women will heal from a depression quicker than the males; this is because the male being resistant to admit may not share their problems with others and hence have a smaller chance of getting well.

How They Cope With Depression

While women will prefer to shout out when down in depression, the male will respond to the depression from a different perspective, they will be seen to separate from their usual self and seclude themselves in engaging in alcohol, working late, or even taking risks such as driving carelessly, at this point they are prone to making rash decisions which they might not be proud of later. Men will sink into excessive drinking and this may result in them being abusive to their family members or controlling, they might also decide to overdo some of their hobbies as they will be found playing video games or football all day, this is used as a scapegoat for the fact that they are not comfortable sharing their ideas with others, they choose to separate themselves and spare the majority the trouble (Maeng& Milad, 2015).

On the other hand, women will prefer to choose to express this feeling to a friend or cry; they will confide in a friend or a trusted person which will then help feel revealed. Taking a walk or going for a run may be an option for some women, while a few usually seclude themselves and shed tears, most will call a friend a family member to have a company with a hope that they will notice that they are not fine. They will also do a task that can keep them busy such as babysitting or opt for a movie a drink with some old friends.

Both genders actually have a difference in how they both deal with the depression but studies have shown that it is for a better part to incorporate the use of available medical facilities in coping with depression, for those who visit a clinic they are more likely to get better faster compared with the other who opts to remain silent.

Role of Masculinity in Depression

As a man you are not supposed to cry, this is a common phrase in the male society. The expectation laid on men by society makes them think that they are not supposed to show any feminine weakness. While men grow they will shy away from being in a counseling session since it is considered a weakness, they will most likely keep to themselves even when hurting. These cases always end up with the men being affected by the adverse state of depression. Men will choose to be silent about their trouble but the effects of this may cost the very thing that they treasure, for instance, when a man is sickened by a situation, they will most likely take a risky step and go for careless driving, in the process they will be subjected not only others but also themselves to risks as they may be involved in an accident. In the event where the knowledge about the depression may bring shame into the family or the individual, they might resort to taking their own lives through suicide. Most of the documented cases on depression are on women, however, it is true that men are equally at risk of the same level of depression, the difference only comes when the men don't report their case (Seidler, Dawes et al., 2016). Self-reliance is yet another myth in the men world. They believe that they are supposed to fully depend on themselves. When they encounter a problem they will not be in a position to share because they feel they will have lost the respect they possess by allowing others to help them decide on where to take their lives.

Conclusion

It is important to note that all people are the same and that every individual, regardless of gender, is at risk of falling into depression. The knowledge about this should then enlighten everyone that there is no such thing as being weak by sharing your problems with anyone. The cause of the depression should also be determined as this will be the first step to take towards healing. The patient should be in a position to identify the agent of the depression and then make every effort to avoid it. If this cause is related to an important part of their life, for instance, their job or a pregnancy, they should consult with experts in the field and find out which way to best solve the problem, since every problem always has a key.

References

Lenz, K. M., & McCarthy, M. M. (2015). A starring role for microglia in brain sex differences. The Neuroscientist, 21(3), 306-321.

Maeng, L. Y., & Milad, M. R. (2015). Sex differences in anxiety disorders: interactions between fear, stress, and gonadal hormones. Hormones and behavior, 76, 106-117.

Seidler, Z. E., Dawes, A. J., Rice, S. M., Oliffe, J. L., & Dhillon, H. M. (2016). The role of masculinity in men's help-seeking for depression: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 49, 106-118.

Skovlund, C. W., Morch, L. S., Kessing, L. V., &Lidegaard, O. (2016). Association of hormonal contraception with depression. JAMA psychiatry, 73(11), 1154-1162.

Stets, J. E., & Straus, M. A. (2017). Gender differences in reporting marital violence and its medical and psychological consequences. In Physical violence in American families (pp. 151-166). Routledge.