Even though times have changed, the old-school ideas about men being tough, stoic, and in control haven\u2019t exactly disappeared. They still show up within families, at work, and in the way men talk to each other.<\/p>\n
For those raised in a more traditional household, showing emotion wasn\u2019t likely something that \u201creal\u201d men do. So opening up about feelings to a partner, friends, or a therapist can feel awkward, to say the least. But staying silent doesn\u2019t make those feelings go away\u2014it just means a person has to carry whatever they\u2019re going through alone.<\/p>\n
Those feelings they\u2019re bottling up can leak out in other ways: They may start snapping at people, shutting down, or numbing out. Without addressing their feelings, it can become harder to be the solid partner, reliable friend, or good father.<\/p>\n
Despite growing public awareness around the importance of mental health, men are still significantly less likely than women to report experiencing depression. In fact, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, men are diagnosed with depression about half as often<\/a> as women. One key reason for this is that men are less likely to seek help, Alma<\/a> reports.<\/p>\n Other reasons<\/a> this gender gap may exist:<\/p>\n Many men are taught to keep their emotions in check.\u00a0Even the most caring, thoughtful, and emotionally intelligent men can find it difficult to open up about their own feelings. Containing one\u2019s emotions can become the default when expressing vulnerability was discouraged during childhood.<\/p>\n Friendship dynamics are different.\u00a0A woman\u2019s friends might ask her directly how she\u2019s really doing. A man\u2019s friends might ask, \u201cYou good?\u201d\u2014and leave it at that. If a man (and his friends) have been conditioned not to go deeper, they probably don\u2019t.<\/p>\n Depression can mirror \u201ctypical\u201d male behavior.\u00a0Working excessively, spending long hours gaming, or becoming irritable and withdrawn might not seem unusual, especially if these patterns have always been part of someone\u2019s personality. But when these behaviors are new, intensified, or start interfering with daily life and relationships, they may be signs of underlying distress. In some cases, they can signal an attempt to avoid or minimize difficult emotions.<\/p>\n Men are less likely to see mental health messaging.\u00a0Social media algorithms often serve mental health content to women, not men. That\u2019s slowly changing, but many men still don\u2019t see themselves in conversations about anxiety, depression, or burnout.<\/p>\n The word \u201cdepressed\u201d may not resonate.\u00a0A person might feel off, unmotivated, or angry, but not think of it as depression. That language gap can prevent some people from getting help.<\/p>\n Here is what depression can look like in men (especially men who were taught to tough it out), and how to overcome some of the discomfort around asking for help.<\/p>\n What Depression Can Look Like in Men<\/p>\n Everyone experiences depression differently, and it can show up in many ways. Here are a few common signs and symptoms of depression<\/a> in men.<\/p>\n 1. Irritability and anger<\/p>\n Instead of seeming sad or down, many men with depression get short-tempered, easily annoyed, or angry. They might notice themselves snapping at loved ones, getting road rage more often, or stewing in frustration at work.<\/p>\n In a culture that discourages sadness in men, anger becomes a socially acceptable outlet for pain. But chronic irritability can be a sign that something deeper is going on.<\/p>\n 2. Distraction through work or hobbies<\/p>\n Working 60-hour weeks? Grinding at the gym nonstop? Spending entire weekends immersed in home projects?<\/p>\n These activities aren\u2019t inherently bad, but if they\u2019re being used to avoid feelings, they can be a red flag. Some men may be more comfortable \u201cdoing\u201d than \u201cfeeling\u201d. If someone is keeping themselves super busy, but feels numb, empty, or disconnected, it\u2019s time to pause and reflect.<\/p>\n 3. Physical aches and fatigue<\/p>\n Sometimes our bodies can clue us in to what\u2019s going on emotionally. Some men experience depression as persistent back pain, headaches, gut issues, or fatigue that isn\u2019t resolved by getting more rest. Of course, it\u2019s important to first rule out any medical concerns with a doctor. But even with all-clear, if they\u2019re still feeling tired and achy, there may be something emotional at play.<\/p>\n 4. Changes in sleep or appetite<\/p>\n Sleeping more than usual or waking up way earlier than desired. Noticeably decreased or increased appetite. If a doctor rules out any medical reasons for these changes, they can be a clue that a person\u2019s mental health needs some attention.<\/p>\n 5. Withdrawal from friends and family<\/p>\n Cancelling plans, pulling back from friends, or not texting back? Social withdrawal is a classic sign of depression. For men, it can be compounded by the fear of being seen as a burden.<\/p>\n But they don\u2019t have to go through it alone. Having one person to talk to, or even just one good conversation about what\u2019s going on, can help break the pattern of isolation.<\/p>\n 6. Loss of interest or motivation<\/p>\n Lost interest in your hobbies, relationships, or career?<\/p>\n It\u2019s not laziness: Loss of interest or motivation is a real and common sign of depression. Losing a sense of joy in activities once loved may mean a person needs more support.<\/p>\n 7. Increased risk-taking or substance use<\/p>\n Some men cope with depression by drinking more, driving recklessly, gambling, or engaging in impulsive behavior. These actions might feel energizing in the moment, but they don\u2019t provide long-term relief (and they come with their own significant risks).<\/p>\n Taking more risks or abusing drugs and alcohol are concerning signs of depression that shouldn\u2019t be ignored.<\/p>\n 8. Negative thoughts and self-criticism<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not good enough.\u201d\u201cI\u2019m a failure.\u201d\u201cEveryone would be better off without me.\u201d<\/p>\n Thoughts like these can be a clear sign of depression. If you are having thoughts about hurting yourself or others, it\u2019s important to get help ASAP. You can text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor, or go to your nearest emergency room for immediate care.<\/p>\n If You See Yourself in This\u2014You Deserve Help<\/p>\n If any of these symptoms resonate with you, take a breath. You don\u2019t have to have it all figured out today, but you do deserve support.<\/p>\n Getting help doesn\u2019t mean talking about your feelings 24\/7 or crying in a stranger\u2019s office. It can start with a simple step: finding someone who gets it. A therapist who specializes in men\u2019s issues\u2014especially one who understands your cultural background and how you were raised\u2014can make a huge difference.<\/p>\n You might want to look for:<\/p>\n Therapists who specialize in working with men.\u00a0These professionals understand the unique ways depression shows up in male clients.<\/p>\n Culturally affirming care.\u00a0If you were raised in a culture with strict expectations about how men should behave, it can be powerful to work with a therapist who gets that. They\u2019ll help you navigate healing without asking you to abandon your identity.<\/p>\n Yes, it might feel uncomfortable at first. That\u2019s normal. In fact, being uncomfortable is often the first sign that something real is shifting.<\/p>\n Depression is Common and Treatable<\/p>\n Depression doesn\u2019t care how strong or successful someone is. It affects soldiers, CEOs, artists, fathers, athletes, and may even be impacting one or more of the men you admire most.<\/p>\n Acknowledging your pain and reaching out for help isn\u2019t weakness\u2014it\u2019s a practical, courageous step toward getting better. You don\u2019t need to wait until things fall apart to get support. Therapy is a proven, effective treatment for depression, and it can help you start feeling more like yourself again.<\/p>\n This story<\/a> was produced by Alma<\/a> and reviewed and distributed by Stacker<\/a>.<\/p>\n Breaking News Alerts<\/p>\n Get breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox.<\/p>\n Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Even though times have changed, the old-school ideas about men being tough, stoic, and in control haven\u2019t exactly…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":36106,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[64,63,137,1686,514,515],"class_list":{"0":"post-36105","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mental-health","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-health","11":"tag-insider","12":"tag-mental-health","13":"tag-mentalhealth"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36105","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36105"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36105\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36106"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36105"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36105"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36105"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}