October has been designated as National Depression Awareness Month. This is the time of year when summer gives way to fall, with leaves changing colors and sometimes moods changing as well. Less sunlight in the fall and winter months usher in feelings of depression for too many people, especially seniors.
National Depression Awareness Month was created to help raise awareness about the life-altering effects of depression. Many people are still not familiar with the symptoms of depression in themselves or others.
Seniors and Depression
Getting older presents many challenges and changes. Things like the death of a loved one, retirement, medical problems, and increased isolation can cause depression. This mood disorder is not a normal condition of aging. It can rob you of your enjoyment of life, sapping your energy and mood. It can also make you have trouble sleeping or eating.
Fortunately, there are many ways to overcome depression, regardless of what challenges you may be facing. Many, many people have suffered from depression and overcome it. Recognizing the symptoms is the first step towards getting back to a happy and fulfilled life.
Depression Symptoms
The symptoms of depression can vary from person to person, but there are some general ones to be aware of. Keep in mind that a given person may suffer from any or all of these symptoms at the same time.
- Persistent sad or empty mood
- Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness, or guilt
- Loss of energy or interest in normal activities
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
- Irritability, crying spells, anxiety or panic attacks
- Thoughts of suicide
- Pain that does not respond to treatment
One thing to consider is that depression is a side effect of a number of widely prescribed drugs. If you are taking multiple prescription drugs, the risk increases.
A number of commonly prescribed drugs have been known to cause depression, including blood pressure medication, sleeping pills, beta-blockers, calcium-channel blockers, Parkinson’s medication, ulcer medication, steroids, and estrogen among others.
It can be difficult to sort out which medication is potentially causing your depression, but one tip-off is if you begin to experience depression symptoms soon after starting a new medication. If this should happen to you, report it to your doctor right away. He might be able to lower the dosage or find an alternate medication.
