Anxiety is another feeling people experience every day; a little anxiety can be good; it's our minds' way of letting us know we might be in danger. An anxiety disorder is when these feelings are too prevalent even when you aren't in any danger, this can have a significant impact on everyday life. When your body senses danger, it will cause a fight or flight reaction, a state where you have to analyze a situation and decide if it's better to fight or run. Many modern-day situations don't require us to run or fight anymore, though, so this feeling can be a problem because it causes unnecessary stress and unwanted feelings when you're not even in danger. Anxiety in men looks a little different; many men struggle with asking for help or even recognizing a problem in the first place. Many men are less likely to acknowledge the issue, and if they do, they tend to minimize the severity of it. Mental health issues have been stigmatized, and often many people see men dealing with these issues as weak. This stigma around anxiety in men is a big hurdle for some and can discourage someone from asking for help. Many men might feel so judged to ask for help they don't receive any until the issues are severe.
Anxiety
Depression
Depression is a series of common feelings many people experience. The sense of low mood, low energy, and consistent sadness doesn't go away with getting distracted. Depression symptoms are clinically categorized as mild, moderate, and severe and can be caused by any hardships or stress you may be going through. Common symptoms include low energy, constant feelings of sadness, lack of motivation, anger, etc. Depression in men and women can look different because of the lack of willingness for men to reach out for help. This unwillingness comes from the societal norms we talked about earlier. Some men, for example, may seem angry or irritable, while women might seem sad when in reality, they are going through symptoms of depression. The stigma around asking for help has significant consequences, and the stats show. Only one in four men who struggle with depression will seek help. This means the majority of men that go through depression choose to work in silence because of that fear of looking weak or sensitive. Current research shows depression is caused by genetics, environmental stress, and chemical imbalances in the brain. There are many types of depression diagnoses; each is treatable and manageable with the right help.
We have talked about different mental health issues people might face, but they all share similar reactions from men. Men are statistically more likely not to be aware of the problem or choose to suffer in silence. The belief that men showing and expressing emotions is feminine or weak has significant consequences, and unfortunately, these consequences are deadly. Suicide rates in men are three times higher than in women, but they are less likely to ask for help. I mean, think to yourself, how often have you heard someone say "man up." Society tends to belittle men's feelings by invalidating their severity, and men are left to figure out what to do. We need to do better for everyone, but we also need to change gender norms to come to a change. If you are ever dealing with any of the issues we talked about, remember you are not alone, there are thousands of people going through the same. Don't be scared to ask for help because I promise your life is worth it.
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