Back in late 1300s, the term “feeling blue” was devised. The use of “blue” was made as the color is closely related to “rain.” In Greek mythology, the god Zeus caused the rain whenever he cried. Since then the term began to be used as a symbolic to sadness. Sadness can take any form. It can be induced or self-developed. The existence of this term indicates that depression and downheartedness existed since the time immemorial. It can most appropriately be described as a persuasive mood disorder, in which the victim quickly transits between the states of extreme happiness and extreme sadness. However, the degree of seriousness varies from person to person.
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Root cause of depression
Although studies have mentioned that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in our brain, no single cause can be attributed enough to explain this mental condition. Rather, many other causes can be assigned to it. Faulty moods, genetic vulnerability, unhealthy lifestyle contribute to depression as well. In the 21st century, the number of cases of depression has soared up significantly. Mostly, tragic life events or loss of loved one is to be blamed for causing the mental imbalance.
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The popular actor who played the legendary role of “Joker” in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight (2008) went into chronic depression and allegedly tried to commit suicide after his lady love Michelle Williams broke up with him. Heath ledger remains to be a single name in the never ending list of people who have succumbed to depression. However, depression is not grave enough to claim anyone’s life, but if left untreated, can coax someone to take a drastic step of killing themselves.
Depression: Men vs. Women
Research says that more than 6 million men in US suffer from clinical depression every year. Depression is more common in women than men. However, women are more likely to recover from their state of depression than men. Men are always represented as tough as old boots. They are supposed to endure pain more efficiently than the women population. Men, when dealing with the difficult mental situation, keep off from asking any kind of emotional support from the people around them. They remain under the impression that they should be resilient enough to take care of any situation. And this is the primary reason why men suffering from depression fail to get their ailment treated before it’s too late. They fail to acknowledge the fact that they too can fall prey to depression, and hence, avoid any medical assistance. The facts, to our surprise, says “men suffering from depression are more prone to attempt and get killed by suicide.” A survey conducted in Australia states that out of total suicides that took place in a year, 70% of it are committed by men.
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Depression is a serious condition, which doesn’t go off by its own. Unlike women, men don’t confess that they’re feeling low. They get irritable and angry instead. Men seem to be designed in a way that they fail to express their feeling, even with their partners. Another reason for men falling more seriously to depression is the clichéd thinking of the society that depression is a “women’s syndrome,” which was supposed to be caused by female hormonal imbalance. It is nothing more than a myth that has been incontestably accepted by the society. Depression is seen in both; however, the way of expressing it is based on sex. Women are more into the feeling thing, while men tend to hide their feelings, denying the sadness they are feeling. And this is the major reason men fall prey to alcohol and drug abuse. Symptoms for depression in men are not detectable as they are in women. If identified in time, depression is totally curable.
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How to know if a man is suffering from depression? Click here to know: Signs of Depression.
