So many men are depressed and don’t even realize it. Or they feel shame that they are depressed and don’t get the treatment they need. There is no shame in being depressed. It can either be from circumstance or a chemical imbalance. Either way, it is not your fault and nothing to feel shame about.
Depression can get bad enough that you may start contemplating suicide. This is a serious matter. Men are 3.5 times more likely to commit suicide than women.
Here are some of the symptoms of depression in men:
-Guilt over a loss (or feeling like you should be able to do more)
-Unexplained anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure)
-Irritability and low frustration tolerance
-Changes in energy levels, such as experiencing only fatigue or restlessness
-Sleep problems, including either insomnia or too much sleep
-Anxiety
-Loss of interest in work or hobbies you used to enjoy
-Reducing your time spent with friends and decreased participation in social activities
-Indecisiveness about even simple things
These differ from the way depression manifests in women. I believe it is because men tend to be a lot more closed off from their emotions.
5 Ways To Naturally Treat Depression In Males
Diet, Exercise, and Supplements
Our diet affects our mood. And this becomes a bad loop because when we are depressed we tend to eat poorly, or not enough, and we tend to not want to exercise which raises our serotonin. I mean it’s hard enough to get out of bed when we’re really depressed so who wants to go hit the gym?
Supplements can also really help improve our mood. Things like Zinc, NAC, and B vitamins can help support a happier mindset. As can a natural testosterone supplement. Especially when combined with other natural treatments.
With men over 30, sometimes depression can come from lowered sex hormones like testosterone. Taking good men’s health and vitality supplements can really help improve your mood and give you a better chance at kicking depression.
Therapy
It’s not a sign of weakness to need therapy. It exists for a reason. Often as a male, it can be hard to talk about what you’re going through to even your closest friends. This is why therapy can be so beneficial. The key is to find a therapist that you trust and feel comfortable being open with. You get what you put into therapy. If you approach it with an open mind and communicate what’s really going on it can do wonders.
Take A Trip
It might sound stupid but sometimes we just need to get away and reevaluate. Taking a nice vacation may be just what you need. A change of scenery and a break from the daily stress of life can help you shift into a better headspace.
Meditation
Meditation can really help alleviate some of the hardship depression causes. It can also help us to deal with the specific ways depression in men tends to come up. Men often get more angry and anxious from depression than women do. Meditation and learning to let go of the mind can give a reprieve from the anger and anxiety that is so often associated with male depression.
Try to avoid Alcohol
Alcohol is a depressant. But more than that is can make us even more depressed and can remove inhibitions that can make us more likely to harm ourselves. If you suffering from depression drinking can certainly make it worse and feel even more unbearable. So if you’re really depressed try to avoid drinking. It’s not an escape from it, it can actually intensify depressed feelings.
Depression in men is no joke and not something to take lightly. If you are suffering from depression seek out help. Or confide in a close friend or family member and ask them to help you get help.