A middle-aged man comes to counseling reporting severe depression with disturbed eating and sleeping habits and thoughts of self-harm to end his misery. His symptoms include loss of interest, low energy, difficulty concentrating, and insomnia. The document discusses depression in men, causes of depression including genetics and stress, common symptoms, and treatment options including medication, psychotherapy, and family support provided with unconditional acceptance and empathy.

1. Case Study A middle-aged man comes in for counseling and reports severe depression. His eating and sleeping habits are disturbed and he says he doesn’t have “any fun” any more. He reports thoughts of hurting himself to “end his misery.” BY: Glen Brown Sheila Davidson

2. What is Depression? A depressive disorder is an illness that involves the body, mood and thoughts It affects the way a person eats, sleeps, the way one feels about themselves and the way they think about things Depression is not a: passing blue mood sign of personal weakness condition than be willed or wished away

3. Depression in Men Often masked by alcohol or drugs Working excessively long hours Reveals itself as irritableness, anger and discouragement Less likely to seek help

4. Depression in Men Men are less likely than women to suffer from depression Three to four million men in the US are affected by the illness Less likely to admit depression; Physicians are less likely to diagnose Rate of suicide is men is four times that of women (even though more women attempt it)

5. Causes of Depression Heredity (genetic makeup) Stress (home, work or school) Changes in brain structure or brain function Low self-esteem Physical changes in the body (heart attack, cancer, stroke, etc.)

6. Symptoms of Depression Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex Decreased energy, fatigue, being “slowed down” Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping

7. Symptoms Depression Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts Restlessness, irritability Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain

8. Treatment Solutions There must a complete medical assessment to determine whether he is depressed or despondent Antidepressant medications/Psychiatrist Psychotherapy Family Support

9. The Christian Worldview The client has to be accepted by the therapist unconditionally as Jesus demonstrated There must be respect and empathy and the client must come before the therapist There must be a sense of genuine care felt by the client Ultimately the presence of Christ is behind all effective counseling

10. Works Cited Bellenir, Karen. Depression Sourcebook . Detroit: Omnigraphics, 2002. Berne, Emma Carlson. Depression . Farmington Hills:Greenhaven Press, 2007. Wasserman, Danuta. Depression the Facts . Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006.