Men are different depressed: 3 surprising symptoms

Melancholy, lack of motivation, sadness: These are the typical signs of Depression are mainly for women. In men, the psychological crisis expresses itself to be different, but at least as dangerous as the suicide rates among men are particularly high.

Depression is still often used as a “woman’s disease”. They affect as many men as women. But the emotional crisis and makes them noticeable. The reason: men are masters of the extrusion. If you have problems, try rare, to analyze the cause of this conflict, but to oust him.

Because it doesn’t fit into their own understanding of their role, that they have to deal with it and to have, possibly, a Depression – maximum Stress or, if it is not possible, a Burnout. These terms are accepted in connection with men in society as Depression.

Depressed men suffer, women suffer from depression themselves

The underlying Problem is pushed further. This displacement is directed at the Chef, the wife, the job or the children. While the depressed woman suffers directly and pulls back, the man, usually unintentionally, his environment, suffering, and acts to the outside world, describes the therapist Jens-Michael Wüstel in his new guide “Male depression” the big difference between the Depression in the case of a man and a woman.

Displace gives the man more and more problems

However, due to this Transfer the man to new conflicts, which set a downward spiral. The depressed mood can deepen. And if in women, this Phase is accompanied by hopelessness, lack of drive, inner Emptiness, and to diagnose easier, when it comes to the man of the possible signs extremely. The symptoms are remains of its environment, sometimes even by Doctors, not with a Depression and professional help.

The main Symptom of men-Depression: Aggression, even against themselves

The inner tension by the Depression felt by men as well as women. But you try to dub this tension through a lot of activity that can range up to Aggression, and to retain control. The signs of male Depression:

  1. Action at any price: phrases such as “I just need a few more months to hold out and continue to make” are typical. Depressed men have constantly something to do, always under power, are work addicted. Even on days feel the need to actually do something. For breaks, the mental load work up with the conflicts, is thus no time.
  2. Anger and Aggression: conflict can lead to powerlessness and helplessness, the men in turn with aggressive behavior to compensate. Depression can make an otherwise balanced an angry, uncontrolled man that rubs me the wrong way in the professional and personal environment constantly and, thus, more problems is triggered.
  3. Self-destructive behaviour: Acute mental crisis, men, Aggression against self, in the self-destructive Offensive. The car’s aggressive behavior is shown by extreme risk-taking, more alcohol, excessive Smoking.

    To the PDF guide

Symptoms to take seriously, because the risk of suicide is high

Men who notice that you have changed in your behavior and feelings in a negative and the listed symptoms, should not ignore these warning signs. The same is not true for friends and family, often feel as the first, if the man is in mental Balance.

Because Depressed men are particularly at risk to commit suicide. Approximately 10,000 people die each year in Germany due to suicide, two-thirds of them are men. Most of them had previously already clear signs of Depression, such as work addiction and aggressiveness. Why just for men, statistically, severe or long-term depression, life is so especially dangerous are:

  • The crisis connect men with the feeling of failure, your self-image is damaged. Amplified by loneliness, many men suffer. Your Situation appears to be hopeless and as a last resort of suicide.
  • During the suicide in women is often a cry for help, and you want to be saved, the suicide rate in men is often the external effect: you treated me bad, now see what I think of you, and from your life… namely, nothing. I’d like to volunteer. Often their decision is not final, the possibility of a rescue it.

New, men-oriented ways to cope with the crisis

Although men make the decision to seek professional help, particularly difficult. Rather you cope with a “Coach” who is a psychotherapist. However, because in men Depression life can be dangerous, life is timely crisis intervention is important.

Personalized Therapy

In General, the Trend for the treatments for Depression to more individualisation. Special for the treatment of men this means that you do not want to be steered, but is itself a solution, the therapist only supports. Various methods are available to choose from, such as narrative therapy, according to the Motto “Tell me”, which often leads to a better self-understanding and conflict management.

Help from the Trauma-therapy

Another method, recommended by a therapist, Jens-Michael Wüstel for men, is EMDR. The abbreviation stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (desensitization and processing by eye movement). The therapist guides you through movements of the fingers in the eye of the patient.

Particularly important in this context: The man formulated what bothers him particularly, as a negative set of beliefs, as well as the positive counterpart, as it would be for him better. The guided eye movements and the blocks you want to delete in the brain, so to speak, old, onerous Software and the space for a new prepare. This method of neuro-science was developed in the 80 years, originally as a trauma therapy, in the practice, but also in depression.