Julie Scelfo Male Depression Summary

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In this article, the journalist Julie Scelfo discusses the causes, symptoms and consequences of under-diagnosed male depression. The author starts by assessing that from the millions of Americans who suffer from depression, very few men seek help. Indeed, men tend to not take care of themselves and therefore often fail to recognize depression symptoms. Another important factor is that many men won’t admit their struggle, seeing the illness and its acceptation as weakness. Influenced by social norms or ideals by which successful men should be positive and in control, some even prefer to kill themselves than to admit they need help. In recent days, the taboo over men depression is slowly lifting, making diagnosis easier and creating more adapted treatment. For long depression was viewed as a more feminine disease and studied as so, but professionals now understand that men only hid their feelings better, whereas women tend to talk and share more. Depressed men show more often irritation and anger rather than sadness, but suffer just as much as women. As men try to hide how they feel and to compensate in various ways in their life, they can suffer of some …show more content…

Yet, new researches lead scientists to think that the overproduction of stress hormones may be in cause. New treatments, like brain stimulation through electrodes, were put into place and were proved really effective based on current testing. Scientists are also experiencing fast-acting antidepressant such as ketamine for immediate, but also long-lasting effects. Still, the most effective method to counter depression is therapy associated with medication, a method by which most people even get better before the end of all steps planned. However, the side effects of medication and the onerous character of this method have lead people to abandon it and seek for another