Vienna. How does depression, which manifests itself as sadness, a feeling of emptiness, loss of pleasure in previously enjoyable activities, weight loss or weight gain, insomnia or excessive sleeping, fatigue, exhaustion, and suicidal thoughts, vary by gender?
Experts say that depression affects men and women differently, and that men usually get over it quietly. Margit T., who told Krone that her husband had become a completely different person since he turned 45, explains her experiences as follows: “It started gradually with my husband drinking more alcohol, feeling more gloomy or lacking motivation. But from the moment he turned 45, he became a completely different person.”
According to Krone, in principle, midlife crises affect both sexes. These neuralgic years are difficult for everyone and often manifest as a crisis-prone period. Many people therefore go through a period of despair and anxiety, often accompanied by self-doubt. During this time, changes often occur in everyday life and in the body. With increasing age, doubts arise as to whether certain life dreams and goals can still be realized. However, these often manifest themselves atypically.
Many men do not talk about their problems and live with depression in silence
Classic turning points for crises include separation from a spouse, reorienting a marriage after children leave home, career changes, death of a close relative, illness, or physical limitations. Sometimes an unfulfilled or unfulfilled desire to have children can lead to despair, and for some, children are in the midst of stressful adolescence. At the same time, their own parents are aging, causing anxiety or death.
Men in particular are now also affected by emotional disorders and even depression. However, when communicating with doctors, men usually display a typical “masculine” communication style. Since men perceive such situations as failures, they often trivialize the problems and do not report their psychological complaints. This causes their depression to go unnoticed. In contrast to men, women report stress and psychological problems more often.
Get your hormones analyzed!
From a physiological perspective, middle age is also a period of peak performance. “In women, this is also characterized by hormonal changes known as menopause and a decrease in fertility,” explains Dr. Christian Behr, OA, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine at the Klinikum Wels-Grieskirchen (Upper Austria). “This condition is well-studied and can only be identified by the decrease and eventual cessation of menstrual bleeding,” he says. However, Behr points out that this condition is also overlooked in men. “A physiological decrease in hormones can also be observed in men, but unlike the female sex, this is not as well-studied or as visible,” he says. However, if symptoms such as fatigue, decreased libido or sexual dysfunction occur, expert Behr always recommends a urological examination, in which hormone levels are determined and therapeutic steps are initiated.
“Having to be strong”
There are also striking differences between the sexes in coping with the midlife crisis. According to experts, men often resort to other self-destructive behaviors such as alcohol or nicotine use as self-therapy, excessive sports activity, more work, risky behavior in traffic. In our society, men are still raised to be “functional.” It is therefore not surprising that a decline in performance, whether in a professional or family context, is associated with a loss of meaning or functionality for many.
A depressed mood, loss of interest and pleasure, less drive, as well as feelings of guilt, decreased self-esteem, pessimism, decreased attention, suicidal thoughts, sleep disturbances, and decreased appetite may indicate depression in both sexes, while men are more likely to experience irritability, aggression, and risky or addictive behaviors.
Expert Behr, who points out that retirement can also lead to depression, suggests, “Therefore, it is important to develop your own interests, hobbies and social activities. A balanced and healthy diet rich in fiber and vitamins – the Mediterranean diet – can help prevent depressive disorders. Regular exercise should also be part of the program.” ( news)
2024-08-07 13:41:00