Is it true that woman are more prone to depression than men? I remember reading something like men tend to get angry easier, and woman tend to get depressed easier in my health book in 9th grade, but I don't believe most of the crap I learned in Health in 9th grade. (evidentally, if you try pot once, you immediatly become addicted to heroine. And then you die) But I've actually heard a couple people say that, and I'm wondering if it's actually true or is it yet another gender myth? It just sounds like a stereotype to me, but I'm curious to know if it has any basis on reality. I know that I am prone to both depression and anger, but I'm bi-polar, so that kind of comes with the territory. What I'm asking is is there any proof that woman are more prone to depression then men?
From my studies (Psychology and Child Development) womyn aren't more "prone" to get depression, it is just that womyn are more likely to seek help and also the DEFINITION of "depression" tends to be more like the type of depression womyn suffer. The anger, alcohol and drug abuse, and acting out behavior that many men who are depressed exibit aren't always seen as "depressive" symptoms. There are men who DO fit the DSM for depression, but anger and acting out (these happen in womyn, and are then usually diagnosed as Borderline Personality, while in men they are often not seen as a pathology) are often ignored by Medical Care Professionals. It is just a matter of who is diagnosed, not who is actually depressed.
Well I gotta say as a man that even if cases of depression are equall among men and women, that men do a much better job at getting over it, and not pushing it onto other people. I'm sorry but this is just by experience with what I see at school every day.
i could almost see where women would get depressed easier than men- hell, have you seen the Abercrombie and Fitch models that we are supposed to look like?! i know that myself sometimes gets a little depressed when i see these beautiful skinny women on television, and then i look at that pudge that i have.... but then i remember that those women make up like .0054% of the world's population... so its cool. but why are we STILL expected to be a size 2?
I'm no psychologist but it's just imho that men have the tendency to get depressed as much as women do, but they seem to hide it better. Most women I know have difficulties hiding their feelings and emotions, and with most guys I know they're very comfortable with packing it inside and trying to ignore it.
except...ONE LAST COMMENT I SWEAR...the only thing I don't like about the site is how it refers to atheism as a religion....when atheism should never be classified as such. Ok, I'm done.
I'm gonna comment on a few random things said.. A few generalized truths: Depression as a disease I think would be equal among men and woman. But I agree with those who said men just hide it, don't admit it, or show symptoms which are not recongised as depression. (anger etc) Woman are more compassionate so that would be why woman 'spread' it, as somone said. However when you say 'spread' depression what you mean is a girl might be upset if her friend is depressed but she won't become depressed because of this, as depression is a disease of the brain. If you're talking 'depressed' as a feeling not a disease then woman are more susesptable because theyre more sensitive and less-selfish so more in their environment effects them where as most men tend to think a lot less about their surroundings. I feel in these sort of discussions its okay to generalize because you're talking about a generalized situation not any one individual so I apologise if I've offended any sensitive men
i think it has a lot to do with the gender roles in society today. its more accepted for a man to have a lil more fat than for a woman to, so thats y woman would be more depressed for having a few extra pounds than would a man. also because of the fact that men hide their feelings more than woman do, the antisocial disorder is more prominent in males than females. this disorder leads to the serial killers and murderers that we hear about. so its a good thing that woman know how to discuss the way they are feeling to help get over their problems. its also good if men can get over their problems on their own, but that doesn't always happen. so basically it depends on what kind of depression u mean that women would be more prone to. its probably equal between men and woman, just different types of depression.
