CANADA: No. Depression is not inevitable in older adults

BELLEVILLE, Ontario (The Intelligencer), March 8, 2008: Recently I have heard a couple of my senior friends complain about feeling "blue", "low", "down", and generally sad lately. People will often say they are depressed, but in actual fact, clinical depression is far more than just a low mood that everyone experiences on occasion. Personally, I am blaming the long, cold, nasty winter season for all my "blue" moments, but some folks might want to really assess their mood, emotions and actions and seek help if necessary. No, it isn't normal for older adults to become depressed. Many of the life stressors that can lead to depression are present in a larger percentage of the elderly population, which has probably given rise to this myth. But, the loss of a loved one, financial concerns, social isolation, poor health, physical challenges, and a lack of life goals all seem to increase the chance of developing depression. Since many seniors struggle with these problems, people often ignore depression in the elderly, thinking it is inevitable. No, depression is not inevitable in older adults. It is an illness and can be successfully treated 80 per cent of the time. There are many factors that can contribute to depression. Some people become depressed for a combination of factors, but in others, a single factor appears to trigger depression. In other cases, there seems to be no apparent reason for the onset of depression. Some of the contributing factors that are particularly important among older people are: personality factors, life events, medications and genetics or family history. Personality traits such as low self-esteem, greater pessimism or higher dependency needs seem to increase vulnerability to depression. Life stressors such as chronic medical problems, financial distress, loss of close friends/family, and loneliness are common in older people and often the support and skills necessary to cope with these issues are lacking. Some medicines that are used to treat physical ailments such as high blood pressure and arthritis can cause depressive symptoms as a side effect. As well, different drugs can react in unforeseen ways when combined and heighten the potential for depression. Finally, depression statistically runs in families and researchers believe that some people may have a biological make-up that makes them vulnerable to depression. Some of the symptoms of depression are: - A persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood - A loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities - Decreased energy, fatigue, feeling "slowed down" - Sleep pattern changes - insomnia, oversleeping, early awakening - Change in eating habits - loss of appetite, weight, interest in food, or weight gain - Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions - Feelings of hopelessness, negativity, pessimism - Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness - Thoughts of death or suicide; a suicide attempt - Irritability - Excessive crying - Recurring aches and pains that don't respond to medical treatment Check any of the symptoms experienced for a period of more than two weeks. If you check four or more of the symptoms, it is recommended that you immediately seek proper medical attention. Your family physician can evaluate you physically to ensure that the symptoms are not being caused by some other medical problem, and then start you back on the road to good health and wellness. If you feel that you are suffering from more than the "winter blues," find out where is mental health help available. Also remember that you can talk to your family physician or any other healthcare professional to get an appropriate referral for assistance. Much of the information shared in this column is thanks to www.psychologyinfo.com and www.helpguide.org And now, a dose of the best medicine for those "down" days and the winter blues... After a long career of being blasted into a net, the human cannonball was tired. He told the circus owner he was going to retire. "But you can't!" protested the boss. "Where am I going to find another man of your caliber?" Posted By Wert, Shell-Lee Source: Community Care for South Hastings Inc.Belleville. www.ccsh.ca © 2008 , Osprey Media