Khaberni - Men who have lost their sparkle rarely announce what they are going through; they instead develop certain habits that become warning signs, and these are patterns defined by psychology through decades of research, according to a report published on The Vessel website. These changes occur gradually to the extent that families often completely overlook them. By the time someone notices, "emotional withdrawal" has become deeply ingrained. The changes include the following:
Stopping planning for activities they love
Often, one of the first signs is how men spend their leisure time. Research from the "American Psychological Association" indicates that men suffering from depression or "emotional withdrawal" often give up their hobbies before any other symptoms appear. These men do not suddenly announce they are stopping; they simply cease to plan for engaging in their hobbies. When asked what they want to do, they often answer with "whatever you want" or "it doesn't matter," while these attitudes are not out of consideration for others.
A radical change in their sleep patterns
In this case, sleep becomes either a refuge or an enemy. Some men start going to bed early, using sleep as a way to avoid facing life. Meanwhile, others suffer from insomnia, staying awake without using that time productively, and the bedroom becomes a refuge from responsibility and engagement.
Negative monitoring of their lives
Making decisions becomes exhausting for these men, even when options seem straightforward, such as choosing a lunch meal or a movie. They tend to opt for what requires the least effort or thought. They stop expressing their preferences, sharing their opinions, or even participating in family discussions about vacation plans or home improvements.
Deterioration in personal care
The changes occur gradually, especially regarding personal care such as haircuts, daily showers, or going to the gym. Research from Harvard Medical School suggests that a decline in personal care is often one of the most prominent signs of depression in men, yet it is often underestimated as mere "neglect." However, these men do not intentionally choose to neglect themselves, but they simply stop seeing the point of it, feeling too overwhelmed by the energy needed to maintain basic personal hygiene.
An unhealthy relationship with screens
Screens become the primary relationship for these men, as they spend hours browsing social media, news websites, or watching YouTube videos or playing games. This behavior is an attempt to numb feelings rather than for pleasure or learning. They do not care about the content, nor watch what ignites their passion, nor play games they love; instead, they use screens as a barrier between themselves and the world, and between themselves and their emotions.
Purely functional communication
Conversations become purely functional, and discussions are reduced to mere logistical matters. Discussions about dreams, fears, interesting topics, or even fleeting thoughts disappear. These men yearn to stop sharing stories about their day, asking meaningful questions, or engaging in that verbal closeness that keeps relationships alive. These men, who have stopped enjoying life, fail to express what bothers them because they have stopped communicating with their loved ones and lost the ability to express their feelings.
Avoiding planning for the future
Planning requires hope and belief that the coming moments will be worth living. However, men who have quietly given up stop making plans beyond necessary matters. They might perform their job or family duties routinely, but they stop suggesting trips and activities. The "National Institute of Mental Health" points out that this inability to envision a positive future is a major indicator of depression in men.
