In 2003, the work of Harvard Professor of Psychiatry, EJ Khantzian, MD 2В linked repression of emotion to self-medication as way of achieving emotional and psychological stability. In other words, people bury what they are ashamed of. Physiologist and medical doctor Sigmund Freud, who is widely regarded as the father of psychoanalysis, famously said people repress from their conscious mind what they believe are shameful thoughts. They also self-medicate by turning to substances such as drugs and alcohol as a way to avoid dealing with depression and anxiety. Men often deal with depression by over-working. I believe that this is the reason why men are more likely to use external methods to cope with the inward turmoil and pain caused by depression. Often, they attempt to shut them off or avoid them completely. Men raised in a system that promotes traditional masculinity have complicated feelings towards their own emotions. Feeling sad or angry inside but showing rage and anger to appear masculine.Signs and symptoms of depression in men include: For this reason, symptoms of depression in men often manifest differently then they do in women. Society dictates that boys be raised to believe that confidence, strength, success, and composure are the core elements of being a man, and anything вЂњemotionalвЂќ is girly or womanly, and should therefore be stifled and ignored. When a young boy grows up after absorbing the negativity portrayed by others, they often raise their own children-especially boys- the same way. A Cycle of Depression in Men: Recognizing the Symptoms Over time, such behavior can lead to a dysfunctional emotional expression and ultimately, depression. When feelings are dismissed and gender-defining thinking is heard repeatedly, a young person learns to avoid expressing their real feelings and begins to bottle up sadness. Imagine being a young boy, crying over a painful injury or an emotional heartbreak that feels like the end of the world, and then being told to вЂњ man up,вЂќ instead of being gently asked whatвЂ™s making you cry, how you feel about it, and what you think you can do about it. And, you may even be guilty of uttering them yourself. You have probably noticed them in dialogue or in storylines on television shows and movies. YouвЂ™ve likely heard these phrases directed at you or someone around you. Common responses to young males who become emotional include: Even as children, young boys who express feelings are compared to girls in a negative context. Toxic masculinity refers to actions that discourage displays of emotion-other than anger-in men while also encouraging behavior that will deem the male вЂњdominantвЂќ in a given situation. In the American culture, and others, many men have difficulty expressing emotion due to toxic masculinity. 1.В ThereвЂ™s a simplistic view that may be partially rooted in truth: women get sad, men get mad.В Other male symptoms include: fatigue, body pain, severe sleep disturbances, and erectile dysfunction. Grim numbers for certain but the most worrisome aspect of all is the fact that untreated depression can lead to anti-social behavior and suicide.Дoes depression in men really differ from depression in women? Yes, men seem to experience and cope with depression in different ways than women but itвЂ™s important to consider the impact of societal ideals of masculinity on the differences. Research conducted by US Department of Health and Human Services shows that depressive symptoms in boys have increased from 4.3 to 5.7% nationwide. They often canвЂ™t even verbalize the words, вЂњ I am depressed.вЂќ According to Mental Health America, six million men suffer from depression. Over the years IвЂ™ve observed that many men with depression have trouble admitting they are depressed. One of the reasons I became a therapist is my interest in helping people suffering from anxiety, social awkwardness, bipolar disorder, and depression. Jump to: Toxic Masculinity Cycle of Depression External Coping Methods Changing Our View What You Can Do

Man express