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Why Men Don't Talk About Depression

It's time to speak up!

By Matthew AngeloPublished 2 years ago 3 min read
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Why Men Don't Talk About Depression
Photo by Andrik Langfield on Unsplash

Why do men have a higher instance of depression than women?

Depression is a disease that affects both men and women, but it can vary how each gender experiences it. In general, women are more likely to have depression due to hormonal changes and the more nurturing nature of females. Men, however, often keep their feelings inside or refuse to talk about them for fear of being stigmatized or judged by others. This will lead to higher incidences of depression among men than women.

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What is the impact of increased amounts of stress in our society?

Some current studies have shown that the average person spends around 45% of their time awake worrying about something or solving problems. Under this immense pressure, people are finding it more challenging to cope with the pressures of everyday life. Stress has plagued our society for years, and it's only getting worse.

The impact of increased amounts of stress in our society is vast. In fact, many researchers believe that if we didn't have so much anxiety today, then human civilization as we currently know it would not exist. We need to take care of ourselves before we can be of any help to anyone else.

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Why do men keep silent about their feelings?

There are many reasons that men refuse to talk about their depression. For instance, they may feel like they are not allowed to speak up because of the stigma around mental illness. They may also find it challenging to open up because talking about mental health can be uncomfortable for most people. Men might fear judgment or ridicule from others if they try to talk about their feelings with someone else, so they live with it in isolation instead.

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The Underlying Reasons: how society can be to blame for the lack of men talking about depression

The fact that the majority of men are less likely to talk about mental health issues has many reasons. These reasons range from the societal expectations of the man to the culture-wide pressure for men not to speak about their feelings. It can also include how mental health is viewed by society. A lack of conversations on depression, in general, is one of the main underlying reasons why men find difficulty discussing their issues with it. Other factors that make it hard for men to discuss mental health include the following: Stigma surrounding male depression and society often views men who show signs of depression differently than women. When an individual experiences low moods, they will often seek advice from friends and family first.

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The difficulties that men face when dealing with their symptoms

Many men often turn to alcohol and drugs to cope with their feelings, leading to addiction. They also tend not to talk about what they're going through and how they're feeling. This is because conventional masculinity teaches them that they should take care of themselves without assistance. Meanwhile, the need for male space is excellent for men to openly discuss mental health. This leads to more stigma surrounding the topic, meaning there's still a lot of discomfort toward those who are unwell. It's easier for men to hide these symptoms out of shame than admit needing help.

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Men should be more open to talking about their feelings to those around them, including those closest to them. Men are socialized to be strong, silent, and self-reliant. However, many men in today's society are experiencing depression. Men should open up more to their loved ones about their feelings to reduce the stigma around male depression. Men are considerably less likely to reach out to support services or professionals and more likely to turn to alcohol or drugs. The male gender role also contributes to this trend: men are expected to be strong and self-reliant. It is often hard for men with depression to ask for help, which means they may go without treatment for years. This can lead to more severe complications down the road, such as substance abuse, risky behaviors, and suicide attempts.

Thank you for reading my article. If you want more, feel free to subscribe to my blog. Don't forget to leave a heart showing you liked this article. Share if you would as it helps me get the word out about my writing and leave a tip as it buys me the coffee to keep me going! If you prefer, sign up for my newsletter here. I also have a Kofi account which is similar to patreon.

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About the Creator

Matthew Angelo

I am a traditional and self-published author and content/copywriter. I write in many genres like fantasy, urban fantasy, horror, romance, and science fiction.

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