That’s how many people struggle each day with depression in the United States. This epidemic is broad reaching, but highly stigmatized, meaning that many sufferers are ashamed or avoid seeking treatment. The recent suicide of legendary comedic actor Robin Williams brings awareness to the disease that carries so many stigmas.
Although depression doesn’t discriminate, men and women may experience depression differently. While there are many common symptoms that are experienced by sufferers of both genders, there are many symptoms that are either completely different or experienced differently. Women are twice as likely as men to develop depression - about 20 percent will develop some form of the disease during their lives. In women, it occurs most commonly between the ages of 40 and 59.
Hormones, gene disruptions, and other biological factors that may occur as early as in fetal development may be responsible for putting women at a higher risk of developing depression. Women are also far more likely to seek treatment for their depression than men, which may skew data about gender differences for depression in their favor. Men may be more likely to wait to seek treatment until the depression is in a more severe state.
Women Are More Likely To Develop Depression And Seek Treatment For It
Women have a number of factors that make them more likely to develop depression. However, women are also far more likely to report symptoms of depression or mental health issues than men, with 29 percent of women having been treated for a mental health problem, as compared with 17 percent of men. One-quarter of women will be diagnosed with depression in their lifetimes, as opposed to 10 percent of men.
Women Ruminate More Than Men
Women are more likely to ruminate or focus on negative feelings and thoughts, when they are depressed than men. This can express itself through negative thoughts or internal conversations, bouts of crying without obvious reason, and rehashing problems obsessively. Men, on the other hand, tend to occupy themselves or distract themselves when they are suffering from depression.
Men With Depression Abuse Substance More Than Women
Men who are suffering from depression are also more likely to have or develop an alcohol or other substance abuse problem. In the case of men, drinking or using illegal drugs to self-medicate typically occurs prior to the onset of other depression symptoms. Meanwhile, women typically begin abusing alcohol or other substances after the onset of depression symptoms or as anxiety levels increase.
Women Are More Likely To Develop An Anxiety Disorder
Women are nearly twice as likely as men to develop an anxiety disorder, which can range from a clinical phobia to obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). About 60 percent of patients diagnosed with these conditions are female.
Depressed Men Turn To Risky Behaviors More Than Women
Men who are suffering from depression are also far more likely than women to throw themselves into work, sports or other activities to try and distract themselves, or to cope with their illness. They are also more likely to engage in risky behaviors - including smoking, reckless driving, gambling, or unsafe sex.
Men With Depression Are Angrier Than Women
Men, especially teenage boys, are far more likely to express anger, aggression, and irritability as a symptom of their depression than women, who are more likely to experience significant fatigue or other unexplained physical symptoms, significant weight loss or weight gain, feelings or sadness, guilt, or hopelessness, according to Mayo Clinic.
Up To One In Four New Moms Will Develop Depression
As many as 25 percent of new mothers will develop postpartum depression, which may include symptoms like anxiety, irritability, inability to bond with or care for your baby, thoughts of harming your child or yourself, or thoughts of suicide. These symptoms may last for months or longer, and early diagnosis and treatment are key to effectively bonding with your new bundle of joy.
Stressful Events Are More Likely To Trigger Depression In Women
Because women often respond differently to tragedies and stressful life events, they may be more susceptible to depression after going through a loss, such as the death of a friend of loved one, loss of employment, being in or getting out of a long-term or difficult relationship, or other stressful event. The difference in this reaction may be partially a result of the way that female stress hormones interact with female reproductive hormones, making the response biological as much as emotional.
Men Have More Subtle Symptoms Of Depression Than Women
Women are more likely to develop depression, and are often hit harder, and more visibly, by the illness than men. Because of this, many of the symptoms of depression in men go overlooked - even by close family members and friends, who may not even realize that their loved one is suffering until the disease has progressed to a major depressive state.
Women Are More Likely To Develop An Eating Disorder With Depression
Where men are more likely to show aggression and anger with their depression, women are more likely to develop an eating disorder, taking out their anger and frustration on their own bodies by becoming hypercritical of every imperfection - real or perceived - they have. Because of this they often starve or torture themselves to achieve what they believe to be a greater level of physical beauty. Eating disorders are also more likely to occur at the same time as an anxiety disorder in women, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Men Are More Likely To Commit Suicide
Because men are less likely to seek treatment, and because symptoms of depression in men are often overlooked, depression is more likely to develop into a serious mental health issue in men than in women. Men who attempt suicide are also far more likely to be successful in that attempt than women.