TRT or SSRI? Rethinking Men’s Mental Health

TRT or SSRI? Rethinking Men’s Mental Health

Feeling Low Isn’t Always Depression

Let’s talk honestly: how many men have walked into a GP’s office feeling exhausted, moody, mentally foggy, and disconnected - only to walk out with a prescription for antidepressants?

Here’s the problem: those symptoms don’t always mean depression.

In fact, what looks like depression in men often turns out to be Testosterone Deficiency Syndrome (TDS).

The problem is, that most GPs don’t routinely check for it. So men are handed SSRIs, told to “give it a few months,” and then left to ride a rollercoaster of side effects, emotional numbness, and still… no clear answers.

At MHI, we see this pattern all too often. What many of these men are truly experiencing is hormonal misalignment - not a chemical imbalance of serotonin, but a slow erosion of drive, resilience, and vitality due to low testosterone.


What the Bloods Reveal That the Pills Never Do


Let’s cut to the data: testosterone, free testosterone, SHBG, cortisol, thyroid markers, prolactin - all these biomarkers tell us what your body’s actually doing under the hood.

These are not optional extras. They’re essential!

When we test properly (not just total testosterone and a shrug), we often find that men labelled “depressed” have:

  • Below-range or low-normal testosterone

  • High SHBG (which binds up free testosterone)

  • Elevated cortisol (the chronic stress hormone)

  • Suboptimal thyroid markers

All of which can mimic or exacerbate low mood, anxiety, fatigue, and even depersonalization.

SSRI prescriptions may blunt symptoms, but they don’t answer the question: what caused this in the first place?


Testosterone, Mood, and Meaning

Testosterone isn’t just about libido or muscle mass - it’s about direction. When testosterone drops, so does our sense of forward motion.

It affects:

  • Motivation

  • Assertiveness

  • Risk tolerance

  • Optimism

  • Sexual desire

  • Emotional clarity


Think of testosterone as your internal compass - not always visible, but vital for staying oriented in life.

When we restore it, men don’t become “aggressive” or “hypermasculine” (despite the media myths). They become calmer, more focused, more present. Life regains its contours. And partners usually notice it first.


The New Hope: Patient Stories That Break the Mold

Here’s what the research shows:

📊 97% of men who restored their testosterone levels in one UK-based peer community reported an improvement in mental health.

Not just libido but mental clarity, emotional stability, and a deeper sense of well-being.

One of our recent MHI patients (we’ll call him David, age 44) put it this way:

“I felt like my mind had been running underwater for the past three years. Since starting TRT, I don’t feel euphoric. I feel normal. And that’s all I wanted.”

He had been on citalopram for over two years, feeling numb and disconnected. After full blood testing revealed low free testosterone, we initiated a carefully monitored protocol.

Within 2 months, he began weaning off SSRIs (under his psychiatrist’s supervision) and now reports better sleep, better focus, and more presence with his kids.

His story isn’t unique. It’s just under-reported.


Ready to Rethink What’s “Normal”?

If your fatigue, low drive, or mood changes haven’t improved (even with lifestyle tweaks or medication) it’s time to check the engine.

Start with our MHI Symptom Score Questionnaire.

It’s quick, confidential, and designed to help you understand what’s really going on.

From there, we can help you build a proper solution - based on facts, not assumptions.

👉 Complete the Questionnaire

Your mental health might just be hormonal health in disguise.