Depression

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Everyone gets the blues now and then. It’s part of life. But if you feel little joy or pleasure after visiting with friends or seeing a good movie, you may have a more serious problem. Being depressed for a while without let up, can change the way you think and feel. Doctors call this “clinical depression.”

Being in good mental health doesn’t mean that you will never feel sad, lonely or “down.” But when these feelings disrupt your life or go on too long, there may be a bigger problem.

Being sad or depressed over a period of time is NOT a normal part of aging. There are reasons why depression among older adults is often missed or untreated. As a person ages, the signs of depression are much more likely to be seen as crankiness or grumpiness.

Depression can be tricky to recognize. Confusion or attention problems caused by depression can sometimes look like Alzheimer’s disease or other brain disorders. Mood changes and signs of depression can be caused by medicines you take for arthritis, high blood pressure, or heart disease.

It can be hard to diagnosis depression, but the good news is that people who are depressed often feel better with treatment.

Here is a list of the most common signs of depression. If these last for more than 2 weeks, see a doctor or health professional.

• An “empty” feeling, ongoing sadness, and anxiety
• Tiredness, lack of energy
• Loss of interest or pleasure in everyday activities, including sex
• Sleep problems, including trouble getting to sleep, very early morning waking, and sleeping too much
• Eating more or less than usual
• Crying too often or too much
• Aches and pains that don’t go away when treated
• A hard time focusing, remembering, or making decisions
• Feeling guilty, helpless, worthless, or hopeless
• Being irritable
• Thoughts of death or suicide; a suicide attempt

You can watch for clues. Sometimes depression can hide behind a smiling face. Don’t ignore the warning signs. If left untreated, serious depression can lead to suicide.

The first step is to accept that you or someone you know needs help. You may be like many people, who believe that a depressed person can quickly “snap out of it” or that some people are too old to be helped. This is NOT true! A health care provider can help.

Be aware that some family doctors may not understand about aging and depression. They may not be interested in these complaints. Or, they may not know what to do. If your doctor is unable or unwilling to take your concerns about depression seriously, you may want to talk to another health care professional.

How can you help prevent depression? Here are a few practical steps you can take.

• Try to prepare for major changes in life, such as retirement or moving away from your home of many years.
• Keep and maintain friendships over the years.
• Try to find someone you feel you can talk to. Friends can help ease the loneliness if you lose a spouse, a close friend, or a special pet.
• Develop a hobby. Hobbies help keep your mind and body active.
• Stay in touch with family. Let them help you when you feel weighed down or very sad.
• If you are faced with a lot to do, try to break it up into smaller jobs that are more easily finished.
• Become, or stay, physically fit, and eat a balanced diet. This can help you avoid illnesses that can bring on disability or depression.
• Follow your doctor’s or health professional’s directions on using medicines to lower the risk of developing depression as a side effect of a drug.

We all feel sad from time to time. It’s part of life. But when we stop enjoying things we used to and have trouble getting up in the morning, the problem may be more serious.

It is a myth that depression is a normal part of aging. But it is a common problem. According to the Surgeon General, as many as one in five older adults experience symptoms of depression.

Depression is not your fault. The important thing is to get help as soon as possible. If left untreated, depression can lead to physical, mental, and social problems.

So, how can you see if you need to talk to your doctor or health care professional about depression? One popular way is the Geriatric Depression Scale. It is easy to use and requires no special medical knowledge. But, it is NOT a substitute for a diagnosis by a professional. No matter what you score on this questionnaire, it is a good idea to see a health professional if you feel as if problems with depression are affecting your life.