Right now, a guy is struggling with depression. He could be the guy next to you in a coffee shop or sitting forlornly in a park. He could be walking along aimlessly in a shopping mall or sitting in the far corner of a dark movie house. Or it could be you.
You are listless and can’t seem to figure out what to do. Somehow you feel sad, yet not knowing why. The world seems out of whack.
Though you know something is wrong (with you or the world around you), yet you could not put a finger on it.
But you know you have to snap out of it, get back to the real world, before it sucks you into its dark womb, like a black hole.
You have to unfetter yourself from its deadly grasp.
What is depression
Often called major depressive disorder, it a common and serious mental disorder that negatively affects your feelings, thoughts, and actions.
It causes feelings of sadness and loss of interest in things once enjoyed. It is serious because it can lead to a variety of physical and emotional problems, decreases your ability to function at work and at home.
We all experience occasional bad days when everything seems to go wrong; feel adrift and listless, lose a sense of purpose and eating and sleeping are impossible.
However, if it lasts for weeks or months, you may be suffering from clinical depression – the kind of depression that is not caused by a loss or a loved one, or a medical condition like thyroid disorder. It could be a case of mental disorder.
Depression in the elderly
Simple depression among the elderly is common, but it is not a part of the aging process. It may be caused by important changes in life like a loss of a loved one, transitioning from work to retirement, or dealing with a chronic illness.
Chronic depression is something else. And it comes in many common forms like:
Major depression
This type involves severe symptoms that interfere with your ability to work, sleep, study, eat and enjoy life.
Persistent depressive disorder
This type usually lasts for 2 years or more. A person with a persistent depressive disorder may experience bouts of major depression along with persistent depressive disorder.
Diagnosing depression in the elderly is difficult because it often mimics normal age-related issues or effects of other illnesses and medications.
To make matters worse, victims are often not willing to talk about their feelings or understand its signs and symptoms.
Why is depression bad for the elderly
Elderly depression is usually caused by loneliness, medical illnesses and disabilities. They may last longer compared to that in younger people.
Whereas younger people can snap out of it easily, seniors are not that resilient, and failure to cope with it may result in serious medical conditions like:
- Cardiac arrest
- Increased risk of death from an illness
- A person’s inability to rehabilitate from an illness
- Increased risk of suicide.
Risk factors for elderly depression
- Being single, unmarried, divorced, or widowed
- Lack of a supportive social network
- Stressful life events
- Damage to body image i.e., amputation, illnesses like cancer, heart attack
- A family history of depressive disorder
- Living alone, or socially isolated
- Chronic and severe pain
- Loss of a loved one
- Substance abuse
Symptoms of elderly depression
The most common symptoms of this mental issue, according to the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, include the following:
- Persistent sadness
- Feeling slowed down
- Excessive worries about finances and health problems
- Frequent crying
- Feeling worthless or helpless
- Weight changes
- Pacing or fidgeting
- Difficulty in sleeping and concentrating
- Somatic complaints (unexplained physical pain or gastrointestinal problems)
- Withdrawal from social activities
Treatment options for elderly depression
Clinical depression can be treated if diagnosed early. So if you think you are having depression episodes consult your healthcare provider or a doctor specializing in mental health conditions, i.e., psychologist or psychiatrist.
Treatment modes differ for each person. Sometimes your doctor may recommend a combination of treatments and number of treatment sessions. At any rate, it could be any or a combination of the following:
Psychotherapy
Also known as “talk therapy,” or “cognitive behavioral therapy,” psychotherapy focuses on helping you change negative thinking and behavior that make your depression worse.
It can help you understand or walk you through troubled relationships that may be causing your negative mood. Or it could be problem-solving sessions.
This type of treatment may last between 10 to 20 week depending on your need.
Anti-depressants
Anti-depressants help your brain improve the way it uses certain chemicals that control mood.
There are several anti-depressants in the market which are all under doctor’s prescription. Some may have side-effects like nausea, increased appetite, loss of sexual desire, insomnia, fatigue, and drowsiness, etc.
Antidepressants may take 2 to 4 weeks to work, and must be taken as prescribed. You can only stop if your doctor says so.
Be aware that they can result to addiction or dependency.
How to cope with elderly depression
Depression starts in the mind and must be stopped at its source. No matter what treatment options you take, if your mind is a fertile ground for this mental issue to thrive it will come back.
Here are some helpful tips to do that:
1. Develop a sense of purpose
People 60 years old and above must have had several traumatic experiences already. While some can easily be forgotten, a few remain to haunt you. And it is tough dealing with shadows of the past. It can make you lose your bearings; make feel adrift.
To stop them from swallowing you up, do something interesting like like a hobby, or do something you are passionate about. Do volunteer work or teach out-of-school youths.
Having a purpose allows you to get your bearings back; enriches your life and makes you forget the past.
2. Develop a network
You must have heard the famous saying, “Misery loves company.” Don’t take it literally. People don’t want to be a sounding board of your life’s troubles and cares.
But do go out to get in touch with friends if you are in a depressive mood. if you do, don’t unload your shit on them. There is not faster way of driving away people than by saddling them of your problems. Talk about something else.
Be with people who are optimistic about life, not as miserable as you are.
Socializing with positive-minded people is a good antidote for depression and helps improve your physical, mental and emotional health.
3. Exercise
Exercise and depression are not the best of buddies. So if you start having depressive moods, put on your sneakers and work up a little sweat.
It need not be the pumping iron type (but it doesn’t do any harm). Hiking, biking, zumba, or tai-chi are the prescribed activities for seniors with creaking bones and messed-up minds.
Or you can devise your own like going up and down staircases, brisk walking, deep breathing, calisthenics, etc.
Go for group exercises for extra motivation.
4. Eat brain-health foods
“Diet plays a huge role in depression,” says Shawn Talbot, PhD., nutritional biochemist and author of the book, 7 Days to Unlimited Energy, Focus, and Well-being.
Yes, most of us overlook the fact that just as there are foods good for the body, there are also foods for the brain.
For example, these are good to fight off depression:
- Dark leafy vegetables
- Walnuts
- Avocado
- Berries
- Tomatoes
- Beans, etc.
5. Go out and have fun
Going out for a long drive is my main elixir against depression.
Sometimes the suffocating familiarity of your home can be depressing; your daily routine can be depressing. And your neighbor’s dog (or the neighbor) can be depressing.
Getting away from all these by taking a long walk or drive can be very therapeutic. It takes your mind off the things that are eating you alive.
“Concerns should drive us into action, not depression. No man is free who cannot control himself.” – Pythagoras
Depression starts from the mind and it must be stopped in the mind.
~oOo~
