Depressed man sitting on his bed in a dimly lit roomManning Up: Challenging Stigma and Myths Around Men’s Mental Health
Although mental health is still considered taboo, women’s mental health still gets more attention than men’s mental health. While exceptions exist, men who face similar mental health related challenges rarely talk about it due to the stigma associated with mental health issues.
According to the APA, 11% of men in the United States experience anxiety or depression, and about 21.7% suffer from clinical depression throughout their life. And yet, most men don’t recognize that their wellbeing is also important and that they too can need support and proper professional help. Here are some of the major mental health issues that affect men.
Depression
Depression, the brain disease that impacts 5.8 million American males each year, can be caused due to illness, stress, loss of a loved one, and more. Having a history of depression in the family can also make them more susceptible to the illness. It’s important to know that depression isn’t just about feeling irritable or sad for a couple of days; it’s a severe mood disorder that can hamper the ability to feel, think, or handle everyday tasks. Suppose the depressive symptoms last for over two weeks. In that case, it’s important to consult a professional because it can be diagnosed as clinical depression or major depressive disorder and will need appropriate treatment.
Addiction
Most people are not aware that alcohol, drug, or substance addiction is also considered a mental illness. Studies reveal that 2/3rd of the people suffering from substance abuse and other mental health issue are men. If addiction hinders school, work, or previously healthy relationships with family or friends, schedule a consultation with professionals at Ziks Health Services right away!
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Men can suffer from PTSD after going through a traumatic experience. The natural reactions of their body and mind can linger long after the dangerous situation is over, leading to men feeling frightened, stressed, or anxious for seemingly no reason. It’s important to note that this disorder isn’t only brought on by physical danger; it can be caused by an unexpected death or loss of a loved one or more. Integrative treatment with a combination of psychotherapy and conventional medication usually works best for treating PTSD.
Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity-Disorder (ADHD)
Many adult men don’t know that ADHD is common in adults, too, since its more commonly diagnosed among teenagers and children. An inability to stay organized, focused, or consistently needing to fidget, move, or make impulsive decisions and hasty actions, even though they interfere with development or functioning, are all signs of ADHD. About 9% of adults are diagnosed with the disorder, with men five times more vulnerable than women.
Why Some Men Find It Challenging To Seek Help For Improving Their Mental Health?
From a young age, men are told that they can’t cry and that they should ‘just deal with it’ or ‘man up’, which has made talking about mental health issues difficult for them. Admitting that they’re struggling with mental health and need help seems to go against the long-standing conventional social expectations.
The fear of experiencing discrimination can also be a barrier that makes men hesitate to ask for help. Lifestyle coaches at Ziks Health Services can help men get their life back on track.
Schedule a psychiatric evaluation session with professionals at Ziks Health Services in New Mexico or Dallas, TX, or reach out to them for a telepsychiatry appointment.
They offer a wide range of telehealth behavioral health services, psychiatric services, depression treatment, psychiatric medication management, and more.
Give them a call to learn more.
