Understanding Depression in Men: Signs, Symptoms & Impact

Depression strikes people of all ages in both genders, but men with depression can sometimes allow symptoms to go undiagnosed and untreated.

Empty Feeling

• A common male symptom of depression is a feeling of emptiness or sadness for no apparent reason. Men with these symptoms may be overly pessimistic or negative.

Dangerous Diversions

• The Mayo Clinic explains that Winston Churchill used to deal with depression through alcohol abuse and overwork. Using dangerous diversions such as drugs or alcohol is a common male symptom of depression. Another common diversion used by men suffering from depression is unprotected sex with multiple partners.

Anger

• Men going through clinical depression will express frequent, and sometimes violent, signs of anger.

Weight Shift

• Depression can sometimes cause men to lose their appetite and experience weight loss, or eat to compensate for their depressed feelings and gain weight.

Expert Insight

• According to the Mayo Clinic, in many cases men do not report their depression symptoms because being treated for a mental illness is seen as a threat to their masculinity.