How Seniors can Avoid Depression

How Seniors can Avoid Depression

Getting old is never easy, no matter what anyone says.  Aches and pains develop in places you never knew you had, and what was once easy can now seem difficult.  Friends and family that you may have known your whole life begin disappearing one-by-one, and it often seems that there’s nothing to look forward to.

There’s no reason to lose hope, though, and you should never give up.  Simple things like getting enough sleep, keeping alcohol intake to a minimum, and staying fit and active all go a long way in preventing depression from ever forming. 

There are also several things that seniors can do to reduce, or eliminate altogether, any depressive thoughts they may be feeling.   And if there’s a senior that you know who’s experiencing depression, don’t worry, there are several things you can do to understand and help them better.

Research

Learning about what depression is and what causes it is the first step in treating it.  There are many websites, books, and articles out there that will give you a clear idea of what depression is.  Discussing depression with your doctor is also a great option.

Discussion

If you are depressed you need to begin talking about your feelings with those you love and perhaps even medical professionals.  Therapy can be a great way to eliminate negative thoughts, but if it’s not enough, there are also medications that can be taken.

If you have a senior in your family who is exhibiting signs of depression, you should talk with them right away about their feelings.  Try to listen more than you talk.  You might be surprised at what’s really at issue with the person you love.  Sitting down together for a real face-to-face may be the best medicine.

Patience

Getting over depression won’t happen overnight, which can often exacerbate the problem further.  Knowing that depression is a serious mental illness that takes time to treat, and coming to accept this fact, is something that is best acknowledged early.

If a senior in your family is depressed and all that ever seems to come from them is negativity, you too need to have patience.  If they’re just beginning to talk about their feelings, don’t push them too hard.  If they have already sought help, be patient and encouraging if results seem slow.  Sometimes just being there with a helping hand and a shoulder to lean on is enough.

Community

A strong network of friends and family will go a long way in preventing depression from ever forming.  Keeping busy is also a great way to stave-off any bad thoughts.  Chances are that there are a lot of senior centers and support groups for seniors in your area.  Find out which are offering activities that you enjoy and stop in some time.  Keeping in contact with other people and also the things that we enjoy will go a long way in keeping our healthy outlooks on life intact.