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Men and Depression.

Depression is a subject that most men don't want to hear about.
Certainly they don't want to be told that they have it.		 depression.jpeg©

Depression is an illness.

  • It is not just a sign of weakness.
  • It is not unmanly or effeminate.
  • It has a biological basis, and affects men and women equally.
  • It doesn't mean that you are "going mad."
  • It can be effectively treated.
  • If left untreated, it damages relationships and can put your life at risk.
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What is depression?

We are all sad at times. Grieving for a deceased relative is normal depression, but it resolves with time. We all have our "bad days." Things worry us, and we get depressed. Often we don't need a doctor or counsellor, but just an understanding friend, someone wh accepts us, and is ready to listen - really listen.

Unfortunately, men are not as supportive of each other as women, and those who admit to being depressed are shunned by their fellows as "weak". Men are taught to be strong, not to admit to illness or pain. The understanding friend becomes hard to find. This just compounds the damage - to yourself, your employer, your partner and children. We owe it at least to our families to get better.

Depression becomes a medical problem when it substantially interferes with our enjoyment of life. It is more than just tearfulness. It usually involves poor self-image. There are several interactive tests at Beyond Blue, a national Australian resource site.

Depression is brought on by a change of brain chemistry. It is an organic illness. Some people are predisposed to it. Heredity is important here, but not the whole story. It can be triggered by stress, a life crisis or illness.

Depression can be treated. You can't just "snap out of it." Like an infection, or any illness, it needs proper treatment. But unlike an infection, treatment requires your active participation. Pills can do only so much. A negative attitude can itself prompt the chemical changes, although sufferers know that "positive thinking" can be useless as a cure.

But remember that a diagnosis of depression is an opinion, not a label. You don't become "disabled". You are a person with an illness. There is still much that you can achieve - and sufferers from depression, such as Abraham Lincoln, have achieved much. Perhaps few of us can achieve his greatness, but our attitude does count a lot.

Links

Here is a page of links to various Australian sites dealing with depression, and a couple of international ones, too.

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