Depression and suicide remain the leading causes of death among men. In the United States alone, more than six million men experience depression every year. It’s important to understand what male depression looks like and what treatments may help.
Board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner Bosede Iwuamadi, DNP, PMHNP, provides psychotherapy for male and female patients experiencing depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues via telehealth at Newstone Behavioral Health in Garland, Texas.
While we’ve come a long way toward transforming gender stereotypes, they still exist. In general, men still shy away from talking about their feelings and mental health issues. Many men fail to recognize their depression, and those who do, often avoid treatment.
Symptoms of depression include:
Dr. Iwuamadi discusses your issues to develop strategies, from psychotherapy to medication, to help you cope.
Although women possess more suicidal thoughts, men are four times more likely to commit suicide.
Men often use different coping strategies than women. Boys learn to express their emotions differently from girls. As they grow older, they may hide their depression to fit the strong male stereotype. Their depression frequently manifests as:
Women experiencing depression admit to feelings of stress, worthlessness, and overall sadness, while men downplay their feelings. Dr. Iwuamadi helps men discuss their issues instead of displaying them in unhealthy ways, such as irritability and impulsive anger.
Dr. Iwuamadi offers a variety of solutions to get you on the road to better health. Simply talking to a mental health professional often helps. The doctor also suggests you:
When you feel overwhelmed or hopeless, reach out to loved ones for encouragement.
Mental health directly affects your physical health. Eating more fruits, veggies, and protein instead of self-medicating with unhealthy foods, plus maintaining a good weight and exercising, helps you feel more balanced.
Whether you work at a job or volunteer for local charities, feeling part of something bigger increases self-esteem and lessens depression.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, if you feel depressed for more than two weeks at a time and experience difficulty sleeping, eating too much or too little, or issues of low self-worth, you may suffer from major depression.
Psychological treatments include:
Dr. Iwuamadi evaluates you for signs of clinical depression and may employ therapy and/or medication to help you lessen feelings of depression and/or anxiety, which often go hand-in-hand.
Reaching out is the first step towards achieving better health. At Newstone Behavioral Health in Garland, Texas, we offer affordable, compassionate treatment via telehealth. If you or a loved one suffers from depression or other mental health issues, contact us today.