There’s some evidence to suggest that symptoms of depression vary between women and men, but the bottom line is the same: It’s important to get treatment so that you can reclaim your life. Read more about it here.
Depression is, unfortunately, a common condition. According to the CDC, during 2013–2016, 8.1% of US adults aged 20 and older had depression in a given two-week period, with women almost twice as likely to experience it as men (10.4% compared to 5.5%).
That may lead you to wonder whether there’s any gender difference in how the condition manifests. Do women develop depression more than men, or are they just more likely to be diagnosed? Do women experience different symptoms than men?
Better You Mental Health offers telepsychiatry and medication management services to patients in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Washington State, and that includes diagnosing and treating depression.
Gender differences in depression are complex, with many variables; however, at least as far as basic symptoms are concerned, there may be some evidence to support a difference in presentation. Here’s what you need to know.
What are common symptoms of depression?
For people diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD), symptoms occur most of the day, nearly every day, and include some combination of the following:
- Feelings of sadness or hopelessness
- Frequent angry outbursts, irritability, or frustration
- Loss of interest in many, if not all, normal activities
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Persistent fatigue
- Eating too much or too little
- Anxiety, agitation, or restlessness
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- Difficulty thinking, making decisions, or concentrating
- Frequent thoughts of death or suicide
- Unexplained physical problems, including headaches or stomachaches
For many people living with a depression diagnosis, their symptoms are severe enough to interfere with daily activities, which may include work, school, social activities, and relationships. And for those who remain undiagnosed, they may feel profoundly unhappy but not understand why.
Do depressive symptoms vary between men and women?
The short answer is yes. Research has found that women tend to display “typical” depressive symptoms, such as a low mood, tearfulness, and accompanying aches and pains. In contrast, men tend to exhibit risky behaviors and angry outbursts.
According to Andrew Angelino, MD, Chair of Psychiatry at Howard County General Hospital in Maryland, “Women with depression may come in crying; men may come in acting out in anger. We’ve taught boys that they don’t cry; so instead of crying, they get angry and threatening.”
Such gender role expectations might also explain the difference in depression’s higher prevalence in women than in men. Men may be taught to deny mental health symptoms or adopt coping strategies because to admit they have a problem would make them “less of a man.”
Though many researchers do attribute the differences in symptoms to established gender role expectations, some research indicates that neither women nor men experience them uniformly. That means there’s room for variation within each group.
Treating depression
Although depressive symptoms may vary between the genders, it’s important that both groups seek out treatment for their condition. Depression is treatable, and the sooner you start treatment, the sooner you’ll feel better.
The two major types of treatment are medication and psychotherapy, and here at Better You Mental Health, we provide both.
Medications
Medications come in a number of categories:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Doctors often start with an SSRI since they’re considered safer than other options and generally cause fewer side effects than other types of antidepressants.
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
These drugs modulate the levels of both serotonin and norepinephrine.
Atypical antidepressants
These don’t fit neatly into any category of antidepressant.
Tricyclic antidepressants
These are often effective, but they tend to cause more severe side effects than newer antidepressants.
Other medications
Your doctor may add another drug to your prescribed antidepressant to enhance its effects. They may combine two antidepressants or add mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, or anti-anxiety drugs.
For the 30% of people who don’t respond to traditional antidepressants (called treatment-resistant depression), a ketamine-based nasal spray called Spravato®, which works on the glutamate system in the brain instead of the serotonin system, may prove effective.
Psychotherapy
It’s often helpful to talk with a therapist to resolve the underlying problem(s) that are causing the depression.
One common type of therapy is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT focuses on restructuring both unhelpful thoughts and behavior patterns into more productive ones, while providing calculated exposure to any triggers that may set off a depressive episode.
Most patients find relief with a combination of medication and therapy. The most important thing is taking the first step and seeking out help.
If you’re struggling with depression, no matter your gender, it’s time to get relief, and Better You Mental Health is here to help. To schedule, call us at 505-718-1499 or request a consultation online today.