Symptoms of depression occur
in 15% of people 65-79 and the incidence increases as you get older. The sad part is that the onset is so
insidious that caregivers and even family members fail to recognize that
anything is wrong.
Retirement and aging are all
about change. You are not alone if you
feel depressed and overwhelmed. Temporary depression, after a loss, is
normal. The key word is temporary, but
if multiple symptoms present and last for more than a few weeks, you should
suspect that you may be heading toward a major depression. Seek professional guidance. Your health care team will point you in the
right direction. No one is going to
think you are crazy if you seek professional counseling, support groups and/or
drug therapy.
Drug therapy alone is not
the answer. Before popping a pill, try
some less invasive techniques to get you back on track. Your physical
and mental well-being is closely related and your doctor will want to screen
you thoroughly before making recommendations.
A positive attitude is
important. You need to want to get
better and you need to be willing to work hard to regain your self esteem. Finding
and pursuing things to feel passionate about is an effective weapon against
depression. It is important that you
recognize symptoms of depression and seek help before you get to the point
where you don’t care about yourself or anything else.
Classic signs of depression:
- Apathy
- Weight changes
- Appetite changes
- Sleep disturbances
- Sluggishness
- Guilt
- Feelings of Worthlessness
- Poor concentration
- Thoughts of death or suicide
Life is too short to waste
time being depressed. You are not alone and there are other people out there willing
to help you get your life back on track.
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