Many people believe that depression simply means crying, sadness, or loneliness. But in reality, the problem is much more serious than that. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is a condition in which a person feels sad for a long time or loses interest in activities they previously enjoyed. According to WHO data, approximately 4.6% of men and 6.9% of women are affected by this problem.
Symptoms of depression in women
Women are 1.5 times more likely to suffer from depression than men. This can be due to hormonal changes such as menstruation, menopause, pregnancy, and postpartum depression. Women are more comfortable expressing their emotions, which can help identify their symptoms more quickly.
Some common symptoms of depression in women are:
– Feeling like crying for no reason.
– Feeling constantly nervous or anxious.
– Always feeling empty or sad.
– Blaming yourself or feeling guilty.
– Feeling constantly tired.
– Lack of desire to meet people.
Loss of interest in previously favorite activities.
Symptoms of depression in men
According to experts, symptoms of depression in men often manifest differently. Many men show changes in their behavior rather than sadness, so they need to pay attention to their behavior.
Some common symptoms of depression in men are:
– Always feeling irritable.
– Behaving violently.
– Getting angry over small things.
– Keeping yourself busy with excessive work.
– Taking recourse to alcohol, smoking or other intoxicants.
– Keeping distance from friends and family.
– Not sharing your feelings with others.
Differences in depression symptoms in women and men
Experts say that many men express their sadness as anger, which can lead to family members not recognizing that they are suffering from depression. From childhood, men are taught to hide their emotions and remain strong, which can lead to early detection of their depression. This situation can sometimes lead to suicide.
In contrast, women tend to express their emotions more openly, which can lead to earlier identification of their depression symptoms. Furthermore, women are less hesitant to seek advice from mental health professionals.