The Six Stages of Depression in Men
By John Gray
Statistically, we are told, women are three times more likely to become depressed than men, and they are four times more likely to suffer seasonal depression. In fact, 90% of the people who seek out counseling assistance are women.
These statistics make it appear as though women are much more vulnerable to depression than men. The truth, however, is that men are just as prone to depression as women. Men simply show their depression in different ways.
Men have six major mood changes that all have biochemical causes associated with them. Many of these changes can be corrected with proper diet and exercise that helps to produce adequate levels of dopamine and testosterone in the body.
Remember, also, that we are speaking in general terms and these changes are not exactly the same from one male to another.
Plus, while six stages of depression are listed here, most men will experience only one or two of these stages.
While most of us are familiar with testosterone, fewer of us know about dopamine, which is a chemical in the brain that gives us energy and motivation. Men tend to be deficient in dopamine. Therefore, men naturally seek out behaviors and activities that stimulate dopamine. Whether that be sports, fast cars, seeing action movies, or risk-taking, all of this results in stimulating higher levels of dopamine.
Stage One of depression for men is shown as exhaustion and apathy. With low dopamine levels a man will feel tired. The sudden drop of challenge from a typical workday and an evening commute often causes a man to walk through the door and feel suddenly drained. The real root of this is a drop in dopamine. In his primitive brain he has returned to the cave after a day in the wild searching for success. This sudden drop in challenge around him leads to a sense of exhaustion and apathy.
The Second Stage is revealed in men as an inability to focus. Brain scans have revealed that males with low dopamine levels have a prefrontal cortex that becomes underactive. That shows up in men having difficulty focusing, listening, or remembering what it is they want to do.
A Third Stage is boredom. One of the ways testosterone expresses itself in men is that urge to do it now. With lower testosterone men become restless, feeling as though they should be doing something, but not sure what. It is this stage of depression where men can get caught in addictive habits.
Resistance is a Fourth Stage of depression for men. Lower testosterone signals enzymes in the male brain to dissolve endorphins, which in turn lessens his sense of well being. This gives rise to feelings of impatience, annoyance, irritation, and anger. In relationships, this often is when arguments heat up.
Stage Five is revealed by defiance, which is also triggered by a drop in endorphin levels. In defiance a man can become uncaring and aloof. He is uncooperative, primarily defending and serving himself.
Finally Stage Six is revealed as meanness. This stage is rare and it comes with an overproduction of dopamine, testosterone, and endorphins. It is typified by a disregard for how his actions effect others and it helps to explain why 90 percent of criminals in our society are men.
As stated earlier, it is important to remember that most men experience depression only in stages one and two: (1) Exhaustion and apathy, and (2) the inability to focus.
In a relationship, women are wise to give the man returning home from the workday the space he needs to decompress.
Watching thirty minutes of a sports or news program might be enough to get him back in balance. In most men balance is restored naturally, but this process is greatly inhibited when and if a man comes home to a list of new responsibilities.
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