Imagine a dirty bedroom. The bed is unmade, clothes are strewn across the floor and water bottles decorate every surface. You want to clean. You know you should, but you can’t. Where do you start? It’s so overwhelming. Even though you want a clean room more than anything, you can’t bring yourself to do anything.  

This is what depression feels like, except it’s not your room that’s messy; it’s your life.  

If this scenario hits close to home, you’re not alone. Every year, about 21 million American adults go through life with major depression. It hits differently depending on age, income and life experiences. But today, we’re going to look at how sex and gender shape major depressive disorder. 

The Gender Gap in Depression 

Depression can start at any age, but the gap in male and female diagnosis widens as kids move through adolescence. Before puberty, boys and girls are diagnosed with depression at nearly the same rate. 

Once puberty arrives, young girls struggle with guilt, sadness, trouble concentrating and negative body image. Boys with depression are more likely to lose interest in hobbies and wake up feeling drained. 

Symptoms of Depression in Men vs. Women 

Individuals of any gender can experience classic signs of depression like: 

• Depressed mood 
• Trouble thinking, concentrating or making decisions 
• Fatigue, lack of energy or feeling slowed down 
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt 
• Insomnia or hypersomnia 
• Loss of interest in hobbies 
• Significant weight loss or gain 
• Thoughts of death or suicide 

But here’s the thing: The tools for diagnosing depression are based largely on women’s symptoms, since women are diagnosed more often — 16% of women compared to 10.1% of men. So, these classic symptoms mostly describe how depression shows up in women, not necessarily men. 

Signs of Depression in Men 

For men, depression is far more external. Men are often taught to bottle up their emotions, so when depression surfaces, it can look like: 

• Controlling or abusive behavior 
• Escapism (like spending a lot of time at work) 
• Impulsive anger 
• Physical complaints: headaches, stomach issues or neck and back pain 
• Risk-taking (like compulsive gambling) 
• Substance abuse 

Why Male Depression Often Goes Undiagnosed  

Because these aren’t the “typical” signs, male depression is often overlooked. Social expectations also push many men to hide their feelings and avoid asking for help, fearing the stigma and discrimination that depression can bring. So, they suffer in silence. 

Beyond Biology: The Role of Gender 

Biology isn’t the whole story here, however. Consider that the gender gap narrows in populations with greater gender equality, and that gender inequality is associated with higher rates of depression in women.  

It’s also men, not women, that are more likely to struggle with depression later in life if they’re single or have less social support. With this perspective, it’s clear that socially constructed roles, not just biological sex, can shape depression.   

Types of Depression That Only Affect Women 

Women face unique types of depression, particularly during life stages that trigger hormonal changes:  

• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) with debilitating symptoms like mood swings, irritability, appetite changes, difficulty sleeping, suicidal thoughts and physical symptoms, such as breast tenderness or headaches.  

• Perimenopausal depression can affect women during menopause. As if abnormal periods, sleep issues, mood swings and hot flashes weren’t enough, perimenopausal depression can trigger intense anxiety, sadness and loss of enjoyment of life. 

• Perinatal depression shows up during pregnancy or after childbirth. Symptoms include feelings of deep sadness and hopelessness as well as trouble bonding with and persistent doubts of caring for the baby.  

New dads can go through the “baby blues,” too. Known as paternal postpartum depression, this depressive episode resembles postpartum depression, with symptoms like sadness, frustration and fatigue. Hormonal changes and the stress of parenthood can make anyone vulnerable, regardless of gender.   

All in all, if you know some new parents, check up on them and send some well wishes their way (or better yet, a gift card for food delivery). 

Men vs. Women: Suicide Risk and Getting Help 

Though women are far more likely to experience suicidal thoughts, men are more likely to die by suicide, accounting for eight out of every 10 cases in the U.S. The reason? Men often turn to more lethal methods, like firearms, while women more often choose less deadly means, like poisoning.  

Everyone has a hard time admitting they need help. Women are more likely than men to seek help: 43% of women compared to 33.2% of men attend therapy or counseling. But the real takeaway should be that there is help out there, and it actually works.  

Where to Find Help for Depression 

Talk therapy and medications have helped countless people manage depression and other mental health struggles.   

Not sure where to begin? Try the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration — they’ve got free help and support.  

Or check out FindTreatment.gov for local options.   

And if you just want to learn more, NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) has resources that make the maze of mental health a whole lot easier to navigate.  

Key Takeaways 

Here are a few things worth keeping in mind after this read: 

• Do men and women experience depression differently?
  Yes. Women experience traditional depression symptoms like sadness, fatigue or loss of interest in hobbies. For men, depression is more external and characterized by anger, escapism and substance abuse. 

• Why is depression often overlooked in men?
  Male symptoms of depression don’t always align with traditional symptoms, so professionals may not spot the signs. Men also downplay their symptoms and feelings out of fear of being stigmatized.  

• What types of depression are unique to women?
  Women can experience premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), perimenopausal depression and perinatal depression, all of which occur during life stages that trigger hormonal changes. 

• Can men get postpartum depression?
  Yes. New moms and dads alike can feel the “baby blues.” Men going through paternal postpartum depression experience many of the symptoms associated with postpartum depression, including feelings of sadness, frustration and fatigue.

Start Your Journey in Medicine 

One person can make a difference — and yes, that person could be you. Whether you dream of treating patients or discovering the next breakthrough drug, your work could transform the lives of people battling mental health challenges. 

If you’re ready to dive deeper into the science and care behind conditions like depression, the University of Florida’s online medical sciences programs are your launchpad. Designed for future doctors, physician assistants and pharmacists, our entirely online programs will prepare you for what comes next while giving you the tools to make a real impact in medicine.  

Visit our Programs page to learn more! 

Sources:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/depression-his-versus-hers
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10102695/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/male-depression/art-20046216
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression-in-women