How Does Depression Differ between Men and Women?
Depression can affect anyone, no matter their background, ethnicity, or walk of life. But mental illness can affect men and women differently. Depression, in particular, can present one way in women and another in men. Some of this is due to biological differences, but many discrepancies arise because of gender roles and societal expectations. Being aware of the gendered differences in depression is important for getting the right help you or your loved one needs.
How We Define Depression
Depression is more than just feeling sad or sorry for yourself. It’s a period of intense low mood lasting for two weeks or more.
Symptoms of depression include:
- Feelings of dread or impending doom
- Feelings of guilt or shame
- Excessive crying
- Loss of pleasure in regular activities
- Loss of motivation
- Withdrawing from socializing
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Changes in appetite
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability or anger
- Increased substance use
- Physical symptoms like headaches, chest tightness, and a racing heart
- Thoughts of suicide
But these symptoms don’t all occur in everyone. Here’s how depression differs in men and women.
Men are More Likely to Commit Suicide
Researchers have done many studies on this statistic, and the reasons behind it are varied. While men are more likely to commit suicide, women attempt suicide at higher rates and are more likely to have suicidal thoughts. This is called the gender paradox in suicide. Men’s mental health is more tied to their employment and status as societal leaders; they tend to use more immediately lethal methods in suicide attempts.
Women are More Likely to Talk About Their Feelings
Regarding diagnosis, women are more likely to seek help and be diagnosed by a mental health professional. It’s more socially acceptable for women to talk openly about their emotions. They’re more likely to share their concerns with friends and doctors. It’s also more common for women to have a close circle of friends with whom they share their feelings, stressors, and life events. This support system helps encourage them to get therapy and treatment for mental illness.
Men Have More Somatic Symptoms
Men tend to seek help for chest pains, a racing heart, insomnia, headaches, digestive issues, or persistent illness. Pushing down emotions can make them surface in unexpected ways—one of these is bodily symptoms of depression. This also makes depression much harder to diagnose in men since their reported symptoms aren’t as focused on emotional distress.
Women Respond to Stress Differently
Women are more likely to develop depression after a stressful life event. They might internalize their stress more than their male counterparts. They also tend to ruminate on negative situations and emotions, which can make depression worse.
Men are More Likely to Abuse Substances
While both men and women often use drugs or alcohol to self-medicate, men are more likely to turn to substances to mask their emotions. Men also tend to feel more angry or irritable as a symptom of their depression, which can lead to the misuse of alcohol or drugs to cope with their negative emotions.
Getting the Help You Need
Depression harms anyone experiencing it and can increase in severity the longer it goes untreated. Mental illnesses don’t just disappear because we want them to—we need the right therapeutic help. If you think you might be suffering from depression, talk to a mental health professional. A therapist can help you develop a personalized treatment plan, including whether you should see a psychiatrist for medication. Depression is often best treated with a combination of antidepressants and psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy. Therapy sessions will teach you to understand and regulate your emotions, learn positive coping mechanisms for stress, and change your negative responses.
To learn more about how therapy can help you treat your depression, please reach out to us.
