Depression
Symptoms and treatment of depression
We all get the blues from time to time, but clinical depression knows no age, race, color or creed. It can hit without warning, or as a result of physical or emotional trauma. And for retirement-age people and seniors, it’s likely to be brushed off as just sadness, or maybe anxiety about aging, and not treated properly. While it’s normal to get sad or get in a blue funk from time to time, elderly depression is an illness that should be taken seriously and treated.
Depression Information
How do you tell the difference between the normal blues we all experience and serious or clinical depression? The sadness of depression is typically more pronounced and prolonged than during an ordinary sad period, and there are other symptoms present which can include:
- Changes in sleep patterns, such as insomnia, excessive sleeping or anything suddenly different
- Changes in appetite, sudden weight gain or loss
- Apathy and loss of enthusiasm about things that you normally enjoy
- Difficulty making decisions
- Changes in hygiene, lack of concern about appearance
- Self-isolation, and withdrawal from family or friends. Missing work or social engagements.
- New feelings of guilt, hopelessness or worthlessness
- Thoughts of suicide or a preoccupation with death
A good rule of thumb for judging whether you’re suffering from ordinary sadness or clinical depression is to determine how it affects your life. While a short period of sadness might make you skip a party or avoid going out for a while, clinical depression might prompt you to call off work, miss important appointments or avoid going out because you don’t feel like bathing or brushing your hair. Judge how much your current feelings of sadness affect your life. If the change in your daily life is minor and you’re not suffering from the symptoms listed above, then chances are that the sadness will soon pass. If you’re still in doubt after considering these things, you should see a doctor who can help you decide if you can benefit from depression treatment.
Depression Treatment
When you’re retirement age, depression treatment becomes more difficult. Often, chronic health conditions and daily medications that many older people deal with can complicate matters. Some medications can even contribute to depression, or keep depression medication from working properly. It’s important to see a doctor you trust, who can find the right depression medication and course of depression treatment for you.
