There are many causes to the growing number of depression cases worldwide. We live in a fast changing world where it seems we are often all at the breaking point of how much we can handle. With women the issue of depression is often easier to diagnose, this is due to the fact that women still are more open with what is emotionally affecting them.
One of the problems with men with depression is that many men are still not comfortable talking about what is bothering them. Often men will give enough emotion to reveal something is wrong but getting men to go deeper emotionally is necessary to get to the root of the problem. Why do men stop short emotionally, it seems that image is still an important factor concerning men and depression. To open up too much is to risk looking weak and often feminine, men depressed are balancing opening up just enough without looking weak.
We can blame societies labels for some of these problems. In his movies actor James Dean often played the angry withdrawn male who could not express what was wrong, men loved it and woman loved it. This image of men keeping all emotion within them was actually seen as being a real man. Young men saw James Dean as strong, silent and distant, today he may be diagnosed with men depression. The problem for most men will still be the their image, how to get beyond the image of what it means to be a man.
The issue of men depression is often misdiagnosed as well. Men depression is often given names like mood swings, cranky, mean or even the strong silent type. A unique aspect to the problem of men depression is the view of those who treat the illness. Although doctors are awakening to the growing number of men depressed the illness is still often mislabeled. Men are more likely to be labeled angry. Men are sent to anger management classes faster than women, women are quicker to be diagnosis depressed. Anger management is something that a man is quicker to accept, this is because anger still has the connotation of being seen as macho or very masculine. Even doctors are quick to suggest an anger class to men instead of therapy for depression. The loss of control is one of the hardest symptoms of depression that men depressed have to deal with. It is often difficult for a man to admit that he cannot control his emotions.
Typical male responses to a problem is to fight back but in the case of depression this is a losing battle. Depression is an inner battle that must be addressed internally. Depression can lead to anger but to address the anger first is not getting to the root of the problem. The anger is the symptom of the depression in men depressed.
Studies show that spirituality is one of the best ways to deal with depression. The spiritual person can suffer from depression but is often less depressed and is more open to addressing sad feelings. The spiritual man often seeks the help faster than the non-spiritual man. To seek an answer beyond you is one of the most difficult obstacles for men.
In society men are taught to go hunt the problem, find it, then shoot it down like a real man. Spirituality takes a different approach; it is based on the need of a helping power higher than self. Spiritual help is a calling out for assistance that is not based on looking weak or strong but of seeking love.