By Mike Bond
Although women contract major, or clinical, depression at about the ratio of 2:1 compared to men, there are a considerable number of signs and symptoms of the illness that are the same for both sexes.
The most prevalent of these, certainly to start with, is difficulty concentrating, leading to an unnatural tiredness and fatigue, which in turn develops into a complete loss of interest in all hobbies and pastimes and other things you used to enjoy doing.
Feelings of worthlessness, helplessness and pessimism go hand in hand with these other symptoms. I always think that the main indicator, the real flashing red light, is when you lose interest in hobbies. Once this happens, if you haven't already seen a doctor, now you must.
If this is your first bout with depression, then obviously go to your own doctor, tell him your symptoms and that you really feel you should see a psychiatrist.
These days, thank goodness, doctors are considerably more sympathetic to mental conditions than they were fifty years ago. In those old days, you were thrown a few pills, told you just had 'nerves,' and that was it.
If it's clinical, or major, depression, you may well be confined to hospital in a psychiatric ward. After two weeks, if you still find you have physical pain, be very sure you let the psychiatrist know. There may be something else wrong with you, especially if you're still having pains in the chest.
If left untreated, depression can worsen and may conceivably lead to thoughts of suicide.
Men are far more at risk in this respect than women, despite the fact, as we've noted, that women contract this illness far more than men.
The highest suicide rates are in men over 75 years of age. They die from suicide at a ratio of 4.5:1 over women.
However, the really troubling statistic is that suicide claims the lives of both male and female in the 15-24 year age range and is the third leading killer in this group.
Men and women suffer different forms of stress which can lead to depression. Men become concerned with their jobs and their finances more than women, but again a woman who's a single parent especially, can become very stressed over her financial situation.
Another factor that I think men find difficult to understand, is the tremendous strain beneath which women labour, always to look their best.
It's a never-ending source of wonder to me how a young woman makes every effort to dress in nice clothes, (we may object to the fashions, but as far as they're concerned, fashion is everything!). They take endless care over their make-up and proudly introduce their boy friend to their parents.
Does the boy wear a suit? No, not usually. He's far more likely to appear as if he's just been dragged from a pond. His jeans might have cost him, (or his parents) $100, but for some quite unaccountable reason, they have rips and holes all over them.
The girl later tells her parents that this is absolutely 'de rigueur.' He's the very epitome of male fashion.
When the girl grows into adulthood, the pressures are even greater. Her appearance at the office must be flawless, especially as she climbs the corporate ladder, and if she's married, then her husband expects her to be his own, personal vamp. Men don't have this pressure.
After all, their wives look after their clothes, too!
Although women contract major, or clinical, depression at about the ratio of 2:1 compared to men, there are a considerable number of signs and symptoms of the illness that are the same for both sexes.
The most prevalent of these, certainly to start with, is difficulty concentrating, leading to an unnatural tiredness and fatigue, which in turn develops into a complete loss of interest in all hobbies and pastimes and other things you used to enjoy doing.
Feelings of worthlessness, helplessness and pessimism go hand in hand with these other symptoms. I always think that the main indicator, the real flashing red light, is when you lose interest in hobbies. Once this happens, if you haven't already seen a doctor, now you must.
If this is your first bout with depression, then obviously go to your own doctor, tell him your symptoms and that you really feel you should see a psychiatrist.
These days, thank goodness, doctors are considerably more sympathetic to mental conditions than they were fifty years ago. In those old days, you were thrown a few pills, told you just had 'nerves,' and that was it.
If it's clinical, or major, depression, you may well be confined to hospital in a psychiatric ward. After two weeks, if you still find you have physical pain, be very sure you let the psychiatrist know. There may be something else wrong with you, especially if you're still having pains in the chest.
If left untreated, depression can worsen and may conceivably lead to thoughts of suicide.
Men are far more at risk in this respect than women, despite the fact, as we've noted, that women contract this illness far more than men.
The highest suicide rates are in men over 75 years of age. They die from suicide at a ratio of 4.5:1 over women.
However, the really troubling statistic is that suicide claims the lives of both male and female in the 15-24 year age range and is the third leading killer in this group.
Men and women suffer different forms of stress which can lead to depression. Men become concerned with their jobs and their finances more than women, but again a woman who's a single parent especially, can become very stressed over her financial situation.
Another factor that I think men find difficult to understand, is the tremendous strain beneath which women labour, always to look their best.
It's a never-ending source of wonder to me how a young woman makes every effort to dress in nice clothes, (we may object to the fashions, but as far as they're concerned, fashion is everything!). They take endless care over their make-up and proudly introduce their boy friend to their parents.
Does the boy wear a suit? No, not usually. He's far more likely to appear as if he's just been dragged from a pond. His jeans might have cost him, (or his parents) $100, but for some quite unaccountable reason, they have rips and holes all over them.
The girl later tells her parents that this is absolutely 'de rigueur.' He's the very epitome of male fashion.
When the girl grows into adulthood, the pressures are even greater. Her appearance at the office must be flawless, especially as she climbs the corporate ladder, and if she's married, then her husband expects her to be his own, personal vamp. Men don't have this pressure.
After all, their wives look after their clothes, too!
Carolyn Vale, who assures us she's past the stage of fashion! Read a lot more about depression and other mental conditions on her Website at Panattack. You'll find a lot of audio and video to click onto as well.
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