racsprincess asked this question on 5/5/2000:

Can Men Get Depressed?

biolightman gave this response on 5/11/2000:

Hello racsprincess,

According to Psychology Today (Feb. 2000) depression in men is a "hidden epidemic."

Many men try to hide their depression , thinking it unmanly to act moody. National studies miss the diagnosis in men a full 70% of the time. Depression in men also stays hidden because men often express depression differenly than women (according to the American Psychological Association).

Research shows that women usually internalize distress, while men usually externalize it. Depressed men often have less tolerance for internal pain and turn to some action or substance for relief.

Check out Terrence Real, M.S.W., author of "I Don't Want to Talk About It" (Scribner, 1997), co-director of the Gender Research Project at the Family Institute of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Best Wishes...kc