Postpartum Depression In Men: How To Deal With It?
We all know what postpartum depression is. However, most often it is given only to women. Despite this, many men are also characterized by melancholy, apathy, and anxiety after the birth of children. We will talk about the causes of such depression in this article.
The causes of postpartum depression in men are due to the fact that the norms of traditional masculinity require men to step back from everything that is stereotypically perceived as “feminine”. Talking about feelings falls under this category. Traditionally, men are always brought up strictly: they are forbidden to cry, talk too much about their experiences, and generally experience emotions. It turns out that men can only show certain emotions (for example, aggression), but they cannot show the opposite - for example, kindness, empathy.
According to traditional ideas, a man should cope with problems on his own. And if he cannot cope with his bad mood, then he is not a real man.
It is because of such stereotypes that many men do not show their feelings and hide all negative emotions. They are afraid of being misunderstood. As a result, these negative emotions and experiences accumulate and can destroy the nervous system of a man.
A man may not uphold the norms of traditional masculinity, but if he thinks that those around him approve of him, then he will adhere to these requirements. Many sociological studies show that men, in principle, are less likely than women to turn to specialists if they have health problems - physical or mental. And they do not always speak honestly about their condition because of embarrassment or fear of changing their lifestyle on the advice of a doctor.
How does postpartum depression manifest in men?
Postpartum depression can manifest differently for everyone. Also, depression affects a person’s emotions in different ways - someone can, on the contrary, close himself off from the outside world and has a desire to be alone, while someone wants to throw everything out - and can swear with relatives and friends. Many men try to find new entertainment - for example, someone starts to get involved in sports betting. If you want to learn more about betting - you may visit Bet22.
A young father may experience depression, apathy, guilt, jealousy. Also, some are characterized by manifestations of aggression. He can move away from the family and behave irrationally, get annoyed for any reason. According to psychologists, a man with postpartum depression begins to do everything mechanically. He loses the initiative to do something. He wants to isolate himself from society, withdraws into himself, and practically does not leave the house. It is difficult for him to accept the point of view of another person. In addition, a person with a psychological disorder loses his appetite, and there are problems with sleep.
Factors affecting the occurrence of postpartum depression in men
Factors of postpartum depression in men are in many ways similar to factors of depression in women. Firstly, after the birth of a child, some men may also change their hormonal levels. Modern psychologists say that many young fathers may have low testosterone levels.
However, this condition also has its advantages - such changes in a man have a positive effect on the development of attachment to children: men with lower testosterone levels devote more time to children and family. You can read about how a young father can connect with a baby here.
The second possible reason is additional responsibility and stress. Many men find it difficult to cope with the burden of responsibility that appears in their lives after the birth of a child. From now on, they have to work much harder and earn more - this becomes the cause of lack of sleep and chronic fatigue.
Psychologists advise men with the appearance of such psychological problems to immediately contact specialists. Because if you start the situation and do not solve the problem in time, then problems with the nervous system may subsequently begin.