Men are more prone to developing mental illnesses due to several factors that range from society pressuring them to act their ‘gender’ to being surrounded by a bad clique. In fact, in a poll made by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), one in ten men experience depression and anxiety at some point in their lives, with less than half seeking treatment.
That’s because many are scared of being judged, stigmatized, or discriminated against, so most men opt to stay silent and suffer alone. This factor has led to a higher suicide rate for men, with global statistics indicating that men are 3.5 times more likely to commit suicide than women due to depression and other mental illnesses.
However, remember that seeking Gainswave ED treatments, mental health checks, and going to therapy should be nothing to be ashamed of, and it’s part of becoming a better you.
The first step to overcoming your thoughts and becoming healthier overall is knowing the early signs of your condition, from panic attacks to mental breakdowns—these are ‘mental health’ red flags that you should never ignore.
Difficulty Sleeping
Sleep disturbance is a typical physical symptom that a person’s health may be deteriorating. Finding it hard to fall asleep or waking during odd hours of the day can be a sign of depression, while not feeling tired can indicate the early onset of a bipolar hypomania episode.
Eating Too Little — or Too Much
Although eating disorders are more common in females, it can affect men too. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating disorders can become very severe or even life-threatening. You can categorize this by the unusual attitudes or approaches of men towards food and weight.
For instance, if a man watches his calorie intake obsessively, they may have anorexia. Additionally, men with body issues typically become obsessed with their muscles, genitals, nose, and hair. These are parts of the body that men with body image issues focus on more than women with the same condition.
Excessive Self-Criticism
When regular or healthy reflections on your behavior or thoughts become excessive or very pessimistic, this is a red flag that something is going on inside the person’s mind that’s less than ideal. Being overly self-critical usually indicates an individual may have a major depressive disorder.
Inability To Handle Boredom
Low tolerance for boredom is a common yet overlooked symptom of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or attention deficit disorder (ADD). Individuals with this condition can become severely anxious if they’re not occupied for a certain period, with some going to great lengths such as drinking alcohol and taking drugs to keep themselves distracted.
At some point in their lives, over 13% of men often get diagnosed with ADHD, while only 4.2% of women do.
Trouble Focusing
Lack of concentration is a common sign of depression, leading to more difficulty making small decisions. Severe lack of focus is one reason why depression has such a significant social impact.
Remember that regardless of your gender, having a mental health issue should never be something you should be ashamed of, as most people develop some form of mental illness at some point in their lives. However, don’t be like most that ignore their issues, act fast, and get the help you deserve to become healthier, happier — and free.