As we come out of the coronavirus pandemic, there is another pandemic that is causing damage. However, unlike coronavirus, many people don’t recognize the danger. Depression is one of the leading mental health concerns in the nation today. Unfortunately, many men don’t seek treatment for their condition, choosing to use substances to control their symptoms. If you see the signs of depression in men you know or in yourself, it is time to seek treatment.
Depression is the most common mental health issue facing adults in our country. It is also very treatable. However, many individuals, especially men, don’t seek out the support necessary to heal and maintain their mental health. If you or a loved one struggles with depression or another mental health disorder, contact our men’s treatment center today.
Types of Depression in Men
When many individuals think of depression, they may be more prone to think of women. After all, statistics find that women have a much higher rate of depression than men at 8.7 percent of their population versus 5.3 percent in men. However, this depression in men is something that must be understood and adequately assessed to give them the best chance of avoiding common issues, such as the potentially higher risk of addiction, self-injurious behaviors, and much more.
Depression in men isn’t drastically different than the same problem in women. However, many men struggle to handle this emotional burden because they are often taught to be “tough” and to avoid excessive emotions. As a result, they may not understand how to control these situations or what types of disorders may affect them. The most common types of depression include:
Major Depression
This problem will make it hard for men to live their daily life and could be a persistent issue that requires several types of treatment options to manage properly
Persistent Depression Disorder
Those who experience depression that lasts longer than two years have a chemical imbalance in the brain that requires medications to fix properly
Minor Depression
Depression of this type is often very similar to major depression but doesn’t have as severe of symptoms and might be manageable with behavioral treatments alone
Psychotic Depression
Men who experience delusions or hallucinations while depressed may have a psychotic disorder that needs heavy medication to avoid serious life consequences
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Otherwise known as SAD, this type of depression typically occurs during the winter because a man may not get as much sunlight as he would during the summer
Bipolar Disorder
Though not technically a type of depression, men with bipolar disorder may experience heavy symptoms of depression that can be very troubling and hard to control
How Depression Leads to Addiction
As you can see, depression takes on many different forms. Unfortunately, depression in men can often trigger addictive behaviors that may require a drug rehab program to manage. But why are addiction and depression connected?
The connection between depression in men and addiction has been very well explored at this point. Frequently, men will turn to substances like drugs or alcohol to mask their depression. Many will either self-medicate in an attempt to alleviate the distress or discomfort they are experiencing or believe their mental health issues will go away with time. Unfortunately, neither practice ends in positive results. This problem follows a particular series of steps, including:
- Depression that won’t lift without help
- Experimentation with drugs to manage depression symptoms
- Physical and psychological dependency on drugs to “help” depression
- Increased symptoms of depression that may cause worsened addiction
This problem is widespread in men with depression and usually requires the help of a high-quality dual diagnosis treatment program to manage. This type of care handles all psychological issues at once to help a man heal from both addiction and depression.
Seek Support at Red Oak Recovery®
At Red Oak Recovery®, we’re committed to helping men overcome their depression and mental health concerns. We provide a range of evidence-based and holistic treatment options to provide long-lasting support for our clients, including:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Experiential therapy
- Adventure therapy
- Group therapy
- Individual therapy
