Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, Archbishop Raymond Roussin, Robin Williams and Phil Merril – what is the common denominator among these men? Aside from being renowned in their own rights, they all suffered from depression. About seven percent or six million American men are afflicted with depression and many millions more are suffering in silence. Isn’t this figure high enough to justify depression help for men?
With the society being too busy taking care of the women and children, the males of the world just stood on the sideline with depression too but unnoticed. It is woven in the human society how men are supposed to be the stronger gender being the head of the family, state and commerce. With too much attention being paid the postpartum blues, depression has been linked to women not realizing that men are as vulnerable. There is nothing weak about depression and it is something which one must not feel embarrassed about.
The role of men as leaders in the human culture and society and the immense expectations from there is the root of most depression cases. Men are respected in terms of strength, firmness and capacity to commit to hard decisions. Visualize how a head of the family go through the rigors to support one’s own. Picture this same man managing a nation, running a massive business or working his fingers to the bone to earn an income. The fact that the depression symptoms in makes are different from women makes it harder to comprehend. Such lack of comprehension makes depression help for men not too well sought.
Men suffering from depression manifest symptoms differently. Depressed men get into fights, scream at their wives or worse, have affairs to release their tension. They are likely to spend time in the office in sullenness or drinking alcohol. Since alcohol is depressive, it can worsen depression or it may cause one to spiral to becoming a certified alcoholic.
Men can be going through depression as common as women but may not seek help. It is in the pages of the history that men who can’t cope choose the bloody way out. Depression help for men can hopefully change those scenario.
Steve is one of a number of authors for the site Tax 2011 which provides Turbo Tax Online options.
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