3 Reasons Why Depression in Men Goes Undiagnosed

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Apr 21, 2022

✨POV✨: You check the male box under gender identity. You've been feeling very unsettled lately. Your male friends all seem to be fine, and quite masculine. But you're not alright. There's a storm brewing inside you. You don't know what it is, just that you feel sad and tired most of the time.

Society didn't believe that men could be depressed until recently. The fact that the origin of depression comes from a mental illness called hysteria, which apparently only women were afflicted with, says that much.

Like that wasn't enough, mental illnesses like clinical depression are surrounded by stigma, no matter who is struggling with them. And it is now that consensus about the importance of mental health is mounting. Finally.

Severe depression, aka major depressive disorder, is the most diagnosed and treated form of depression in men because it's one of the few kinds that also manifests as physical symptoms (like difficulty sleeping, drastic changes in weight, body aches, headaches and digestive issues). This leaves all the other types to be largely undiagnosed and untreated depression. To know more about depression in men, click here.

Why Is Depression in Men Largely Undiagnosed? 🎭

Here's a list of three reasons why depression symptoms are not seen as depression:

🚹 Gender Rigidity

When one adheres to the gender norms of patriarchy, they box themselves to fit those norms. Traditional gender norms for men don't let them cry openly, express vulnerability, ask for help or even be transiently emotional beings.

And because mental health symptoms of depression overlap with the list of these don'ts, men are more likely to shrug off and suppress psychological symptoms of depression. This can lead to emotional numbness, which is another symptom of depression. To know more about it, click here.

And if men don't even acknowledge the symptoms, how will the diagnosis occur?

❌ Misdiagnosis

The stage of diagnosis generally only comes about when physical symptoms are present. But what often happens is that because only the physical symptoms are reported, the symptoms are diagnosed as being caused by a physical ailment.

🚫 Stigma

This is by far the easiest to undo because all the other factors needed for a diagnosis are present. The person dealing with depression is aware of their symptoms and their need for help. But stigma, which is a socially constructed deterrent, holds those men back from reporting their psychological symptoms.

The air of stigma is so dense and heavy that it is easier to deal with depression than to come out; to deal be discouraged by fears like ‘I am scared of breaking down uncontrollably in front of someone while talking about my loss’.

It's bizzare.

Last Word on Mental Health 🤍

To treat depression is not as challenging as undoing our patterns of not seeking help to manage our mental health symptoms.

Talk therapy is an effective mental health treatment that counteracts all three reasons listed above. To know more about talk therapy, click here. All it takes is that first step of wanting therapy to cope. Das all, ez. And not to worry, we're well on our way to decimating the system's control over us.

We are who we are, not what we're born as, and definitely not who society tells us we are.

Note on Mental Disorders 🚩

If you have depressive symptoms or thoughts of self-harm, please use the NIHM (National Institute of Mental Health) national suicide prevention lifeline or contact a mental health professional to seek treatment options for treating depression.