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Dr Chido Rwafa Madzvamutse
Correspondent
As discussed in previous articles, mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which an individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a meaningful contribution to their community.
The mental well-being of men is not often talked about, but is critical for our families, communities and for society as a whole to function optimally.
Men too can be affected by common mental health problems. One common challenge faced by many men, but not always recognised is depression.
What does depression look like in a man?
Many of the symptoms of depression are similar between men and women and these can include a sad or low mood, fatigue, loss of motivation, poor sleep, changes in appetite, poor concentration, low self-esteem, feelings of helplessness, feelings of hopelessness and at its worst thoughts of death and suicide.
There are some symptoms that may be more prominent in men and these may not always be recognised as typical symptoms of depression.
This can lead to many men misunderstanding what will truly be going on while their friends, family and colleagues may also misread the situation as well.
Some symptoms that may occur with depression in men include:
Frustration, irritability, anger and aggression: some men may struggle to express many emotions and may be socialised to act out rather than to express sadness, show grief or to allow themselves to cry or be tearful. When experiencing depression, some men may become easily frustrated, may become irritable more often, may struggle with managing their anger and feel excessively aggressive. This may then result in hostile treatment of others, harsh words and sometimes even violence in homes which unfortunately can result in further social isolation and worsening of the depression.
Alcohol and substance misuse: While alcohol and substance use can be mental health problems on their own, misuse of substances can be an outward expression of deeper problems like depression or anxiety. Alcohol and substances can sometimes be used to ‘self- medicate’ the emotional pain, sadness, insomnia and hopelessness of depression. Alcohol and substances can be used to try and build up bravado or self-esteem or to overcome anxiety or cope with helplessness. Unfortunately, when a man starts to misuse alcohol and substances to try and cope with depression they will often be misunderstood. They may be further stigmatised as alcohol and substance abuse is often misunderstood as a moral failure. This can make it even harder for men struggling like this to get the help that they need.
High risk behaviour: Depression in men may manifest as high risk, self-destructive behaviour. This can be seen as speeding while driving or sometimes as road rage. Some men may engage in risky sexual behaviour. Some may engage in high-risk investments. Other men may engage in escape behaviour in mistaken attempts to deal with their emotional pain. This may be excessive spending or extramarital affairs/cheating. Again, these behaviours may be misunderstood by men themselves and those around them making it difficult to get to the root cause of these issues and to deal with the depression itself.
Emotional numbness and detachment: Depression can cause some men to struggle to connect with others emotionally. They may feel emotionally numb, unable to feel emotion and to express emotions. They may become emotionally detached from friends and family and this may result in breakdown of relationships and a deepening of the feeling of isolation again making it difficult to reach out for help.
Avoidance behaviour and overworking: Some men with depression may recognise that they may be struggling emotionally, but will tend to avoid the problem, they may avoid talking about or avoid any deep conversations that may address the challenges.
Online Reporter