Apparently, not only women get depressed. Men do too. By 'depressed', we mean not only having bad hair days and stepping on a puddle of mud; we mean men experiencing chemical imbalance and low self-esteem and the drive to go on with life. Public health advocate Austin Klise of Huffington Post has come up with four strategies that can help you help men get through depression.
Headlines for the past few weeks have been filled with news about beautiful, famous women suffering from depression. Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone was reportedly open about her days of depression and how she dealt with it just like the Heroes star Hayden Panettiere when the latter experienced postpartum depression. Even past history, media and literature have made it easier for us to associate depression to women -Sylvia Plath, author of Bell Jar, was famous for her wonderful works as results of her despair and Marilyn Monroe, the all-time famous icon who lived a (seemingly) perfect life yet found emptiness in her life.
What is more, for some distinct reasons, it's harder to imagine men enduring dejection. Based on NIH and CDC statistics, women generally have a higher probability to acquire depression. However, many experts disagree, saying that depression is just less diagnosed in men since cases in them are often times left ignored and untreated.
As a matter of fact, as related by Klise, six million men are experiencing different levels of depression at any given time. Klise suggests not seeing the fact as something to give in to and surrender to this illness plaguing men around us, but rather take it as an opportunity to stretch ourselves and deal with the defensiveness, anger, self-pity, and insecurity inflicting its victims through the following strategies advocated by Klise:
1. Understand his depression - Understand that it is not just a feeling but rather a state wherein chemical imbalance in the brain affecting the body. Know what he needs.
2. Acknowledge his depression - Never ignore the signs he's sending to tell that he needs attention or assistance.
3. Keep yourself healthy - Make sure you take care of yourself to be able to take care of him.
4. Ask help from professionals - Accept the fact that you can't do it alone. See the right doctor and seek for professional help.