Depression disproportionately affects the elderly. Unfortunately many times the signs of depression can be confused with signs of aging. In order to properly diagnose and treat depression in the elderly, individuals, their care takers and health care providers need to be vigilant in looking for the signs and symptoms. Depression in the elderly can be debilitating and effect other areas of health. Determining if depression is involved is an important part of the health screening process.
Warning Signs of Depression
When dealing with the elderly and depression, some detective work is often needed. It is important that the elderly and their caretakers know the signs and symptoms of depression. As the elderly tend to have a lot of confounding factors coming into play at the same time which affect their health, symptoms of depression are easily masked as signs of aging. Symptoms of depression vary from person to person. Some common signs are:
- Tiredness and lack of energy
- Difficulty focusing, remembering and staying on task
- Irritability
- Feelings of guilt, emptiness or helplessness
- Sleeping too much or insomnia
- Eating more or less than normal
- Loss of interest in activities that were enjoyed before
- Crying for long periods of time
- Thoughts of suicide
While these are only a few of the possible symptoms, one can readily see how depression can easily be mistaken for signs of aging, precisely because these symptoms are so prevalent among the elderly. Mental and physical sickness and “old age” are often considered to be one in the same. According to the Rotterdam Scan Study, people with an early onset of depression had an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease. The study also found that the depression symptoms did not have to be obvious to run this risk.[i] This study highlights the fact that early detection and treatment of depression in the older population is vital in the fight to lower the risk of Alzheimer Disease. Much more research is being done to investigate the link between the two. It is clear however, that the two are linked.
What You Can Do to Improve Quality of Life
One thing is certain: the earlier depression is diagnosed and treated, the greater the chance a person will recover and regain a healthy lifestyle. There are many treatments available for depression. Once diagnosed a referral should be made to a geriatric psychiatrist. This is a specialist who is trained to treat depression in the older population. The treatment can vary from things as simple as talk therapy, diet changes and exercise to medication. A combination of all these methods is often used.
It should be understood that the elderly deal with problems that younger generations do not. They are often dealing with deaths of loved ones, illness and retirement. They may suffer financial burdens, not to mention a sense of loss of control over their lives. These may be issues they have never dealt with previously and will need to learn new methods to deal with them emotionally.
Diet is an important factor in dealing with depression in the elderly. Older people may not be eating like they should. They may be living alone or on a limited income. Their diets should be carefully analyzed. While there is no one food that will “cure” depression, as the saying goes, we are what we eat, and food does often affect how we feel. Plenty of whole fresh fruits and vegetables are essential. These will provide essential vitamins and minerals as well as antioxidants. Carbohydrates in small amounts can have a calming effect. Whole grains are especially important for heart and digestive issues. Good sources of protein, especially those with Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish and legumes, are recommended.
Exercise is an excellent way to make anyone feel better. During exercise, the brain releases a neurotransmitter called serotonin as well as endorphins. These are the body’s natural “feel good” chemicals. They help a person sleep better, stabilize the mood and even affect appetite and cell generation.
Exercise does not have to be an intense workout at the gym. It can be something as simple as a brisk walk through the park for 10 to 15 minutes. Elderly people could be encouraged to take a dance class or a fitness class with other seniors. This will provide exercise and also give them needed social interaction.
Getting the elderly population involved socially is also an essential part of depression treatment and prevention. Many elderly people withdraw. They may have experienced the loss of a loved one or friends and feel they are alone. Getting them back out in the community and involved in activities that they find enjoyable is helpful.
As you can see, communication and education are vital in detection of depression in the elderly. If you believe an older person you care about may be suffering from depression, bring it to the attention of a health professional. Effective treatment may make a significant improvement in the elder person’s overall health.
[i] http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/abstract/70/15/1258
Lori Somekh
http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/is-depression-being-mistaken-for-old-age-1202459.html
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Major depression is also known as major depressive disorder or clinical depression, is a mental disorder. Its characteristic symptoms are pervasive mood swings, low self-esteem and loss of pleasure or interest in activities that the individual generally found enjoyable.
Major depression is different from depression, although the terms are often used synonymously. But the fact is major depression is different from what is referred to as ‘depression, which is actually a depressed mood. Major depression is a disabling condition which affects and impairs an individual’s work, family life, school life, sleeping and eating habits and overall health. Women are at a greater risk for major depression as compared to men, but suicide is more common among men. In the United States, about 3.4% of individuals with major depression commit suicide, while depression is a problem with 60% of all those who commit suicide.
Major depression is most likely to occur between the ages of 30 years to 40 years with a later peak between 50 years to 60 years. There are, however, no laboratory tests for depressions. Physicians and psychologists often do refer laboratory tests to assess that the symptoms are not the result of other diseases.
The symptoms of major depression are sometimes obvious, other times not so. Many a times they are mistaken for a depressed mood but the fact is major depression lasts longer and the symptoms will go well beyond two weeks. A person suffering from major depression will exhibit the following symptoms;
1. Persistently sad or irritable mood
2. Pronounced changes in sleep, appetite, and energy
3. Difficulty thinking, concentrating, and remembering
4. Physical slowing or agitation
5. Lack of interest in or pleasure from activities that were once enjoyed
6. Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, hopelessness, and emptiness
7. Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
8. Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
Major depression can be brought about by a number of reasons and it’s hard to pinpoint a single culprit. Psychological, biological and environmental factors may all play their part and often it is the combination of these rather than one isolated factor. Regardless of what caused if, major depression is a serious medical illness that warrants medical care.
What happens inside the body to bring about major depression? Scientists believe that norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine are three neurotransmitters (chemical messengers that transmit electrical signals between brain cells), and these are involved in major depression. When a chemical imbalance occurs in these neurotransmitters, major depression is the result. Anti-depressant medication works by stabilizing the chemical balances. Anti-depressants either increase the availability of neurotransmitters or change the sensitivity level of the receptors for them.
The heredity nature of major depression has been found to be quite a determining and predicting factor. An individual who has a family history of major depression is at a higher risk for developing major depression than those who don’t have major depression in the family. This doesn’t mean that every person with a family history of major depression will develop the illness, but for such individuals, there may be a genetic vulnerability.
Whatever the case may be, if you suspect that you or a loved one has major depression, you should immediately consult a psychologist as the condition will affect both your health and your life.
jeniferhobson
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/major-depression-is-a-serious-medical-illness-1000013.html
Technorati Tags: Characteristic Symptoms, Clinical Depression, Depressed Mood, Depression Suicide, Depressions, Depressive Disorder, Feelings Of Guilt, Health Women, Hopelessness, Irritable Mood, Laboratory Tests, Lack Of Interest, Low Self Esteem, Major Depression, Major Depressive Disorder, Medical Illness, Mental Disorder, Mood Swings, Recurrent Thoughts, Worthlessness
If you look up “clinically proven process for depression” on any search engine (be sure to include the quotes as this will eliminate the medication sites) you will find the only clinically proven process for depression just as you would have ten years ago. The majority of people who suffer from this debilitating disorder have been so programmed with the use of medication for depression that a process that actually fixes the problem at the source has been all but ignored since its introduction into psychiatric care in 1990.
Depression is the primary symptom for almost all behavior disorders. Go to a psychiatrist or psychologist with symptoms of depression and you have just signed up for a prescription for an anti depression medication, many of which are linked to suicide. Without question this is the most extreme example of attacking the body to try and change the mind. This is not to say that a prescription to an antidepressant should never be done. If there is a clinically proven process for depression does it make any sense to make this the first step.
In May 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended a new warning label for all antidepressant medications. The current “black box” label includes a warning about the increased risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children and adolescents. The FDA wants to expand this warning to include young adults from ages 18 to 24. Children and young adults should also be monitored for the emergence of agitation, irritability, and unusual changes in behavior, as these symptoms can indicate the depression is getting worse. The risk of suicide is particularly great during the first one to two months of treatment. Does medication make any sense with this type of warning especially when there is a clinically proven process for depression that gets to the very root of the problem?
Everyone can agree that your health and well-being is dependent on your doctor’s expertise, so it’s important to choose the physician, psychologist or psychiatrist who is best qualified. What does the best qualified mean in regard to your mental health? In terms of the only clinically proven process for depression it means beginning with an answer to the most fundamental question about the state of depression or any emotional state and that is: “What brings about an emotional state and or behavior?” If your physician, psychologist or psychiatrist cannot answer this question how qualified are they? The answer is simple. If they cannot answer this question they are guessing, this is why medication for depression is so widely prescribed. The reality is there is not a physician, psychologist or psychiatrist who can answer this question because none of these groups even asks the question. You simply cannot fix it if you do not know how it works and you do not know how it works if you cannot answer the question.
There is complacency if not outright resistance within the community of psychology toward this clinically proven process. The first study of this process in 1992 has had virtually no impact on how depression was treated then or now. The medical and mental health communities have all but ignored it and continue with dispersing medication with a seemingly high tolerance if not acceptance toward people who commit suicide while depressed or while on depression medication.
The most disturbing suicide statistics of late are the average of eighteen military personnel who are committing suicide every day as reported by NBC on December 13, 2007. NBC also reported that 20% of active duty soldiers are reporting serious mental health problems including depression and post traumatic stress. All the while the medical and mental health communities are content with not even posing the question that will lead to a resolution to this problem and that is: “What brings about an emotional state or what determines human behavior?”
Question 15 of the clinical study was: Do you have thoughts that life is not worth living and you would be better off dead? There was a 95.7 percent improvement in regard to this question and no one was prescreened for depression before the study.
The hope here is that people who have a friend, relative, child or know someone in the military who can be helped by the only clinically proven process for depression will now take action on their own.
Kelly Burris
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/life-coach-depression-and-the-only-proven-program-process-to-fix-it-293217.html
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I have Social anxiety. My doctor prescribed Zoloft which is a depression medicine. I am just curious, how does the same medicine also treats social anxiety???
They go hand in hand. You get anxious about something and after some time it becomes depressed over that same thing. In both cases, when the nerve ends send messages to the next nerve thru a gap, these messages don’t get there, they sort of bounce back to their origin. This is what’s called a chemical imbalance in the brain. These messages are sent via chemicals ‘jumping’ from one nerve end to the other. If they don’t get ‘absorbed’ by the second nerve, we become depressed and probably more anxious about more things in life.
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Im doing an original oratory for speech and debate. I need to know what the percentage is of suicide victims who commit suicide because of stereotyping? Or a ratio or some statistics or something! Please help i’ve looked everywhere. :/
17%
Technorati Tags: Commit Suicide, Original Oratory, Statistics, Suicide Rates, Suicide Victims
im 18 and i have been depressed for a few years. i think about suicide constantly and i have for a long time now. i have been hiding it and nobody knows. i want to let someone know but i am super shy and i don’t know how do bring it up. i cant keep going like this and i want someone to help.
My advice is to pick someone that you can trust or a group of people: parents, friends, other relatives. and write them a letter about your feelings, and ask them to read it in front of you.
This way you can say exactly what you need to say, and not get shamed into keeping in anything once they begin reacting.
depression and suicide are touchy subjects to discuss, but they MUST be discussed, especially for you, since you are thinking about it constantly.
Next, ask to see a therapist to get a better understanding of your situation.
Good luck, you want the help, so go out and get it. you can’t expect anyone to read your mind, you must say something.
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The latter type, sometimes referred to as ‘clinical depression’, is defined as ‘a persistent exaggeration of the everyday feelings that accompany sadness’.
If you have severe depression you may experience low mood, loss of interest and pleasure as well as feelings of worthlessness and guilt. You may also experience tearfulness, poor concentration, reduced energy, reduced or increased appetite and weight, sleep problems and anxiety. You may even feel that life is not worth living, and plan or attempt suicide.
Depression can affect anyone, of any culture, age or background. About twice as many women as men seek help for depression, though this may reflect the greater readiness of women to discuss their problems.
One thing that may make it hard for doctors to recognise depression is that people with depression often complain of physical problems, commonly headaches, lethargy, stomach upsets or joint pains, rather than low mood, sometimes because these can be significant symptoms, but sometimes because they find it difficult to admit to feeling emotionally distressed for reasons they may not even be able to identify.
Depression is usually related to upsetting life events, such as bereavement, relationship difficulties, physical illness, or job or money worries.
Bi-polar disorder (manic depression)
Someone with bi-polar affective disorder has both ‘high’ and ‘low’ mood swings, along with changes in thoughts, emotions and physical health.
Post-natal depression (PND)
About 1 in 10 women experience postnatal depression in the first year after having a baby.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Some people describe feeling depressed regularly at certain times of the year. Usually this kind of depression starts in the autumn or winter, when daylight is reduced.
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Keep active. Being more active is associated with lower levels of depression. Outdoor activity seems to be particularly important in staving off depression in older men.
Review your eating habits. Recent research has suggested that people who are depressed may have low levels of certain essential fatty acids, which are found in fish oils. It has therefore been suggested that people with depression should change their eating habits, for example eating more oily fish such as sardines, or should take fish oil supplements.
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Investigate herbal medicine. St John’s Wort ( Hypericum perforatum) can help many people with mild to moderate depression. Before taking St John’s Wort check with your doctor or pharmacist especially if you are taking other kinds of medication, for example for heart disease, epilepsy, asthma or migraine.
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Take control. Some people find it helps if they have some control over what happens. This helps to guard against the kind of ‘hopelessness’ which is associated with depression. Activities that involve making a ‘fresh start’ have been shown to help people recover from long-lasting depression. Similarly, learning to set small or manageable goals can give you a sense of achievement and make you feel better.
There are a number of self-help books, guides, and software programmes which can help you to learn ways of coping with mild to moderate episodes of depression.
Drug treatments
Anti-depressant drugs act by increasing the activity of those brain chemicals which affect the way we feel. Anti-depressants are thought to help 2 out of 3 of people with depression.
Tricyclic antidepressants, such as dothiepin, imipramine, and amitryptyline are often prescribed for moderate to severe depression. These usually take up to two weeks to start working and may have side effects.
Newer antidepressant drugs (SSRIs and SNRIs) target specific chemical ‘messengers’ in the brain. The most well-known SSRI is fluoxetine (Prozac) but there are several other brands. These newer drugs are popular because they tend to have fewer side effects than older drugs.
Lithium carbonate is sometimes prescribed to people with severe depression. High levels of lithium in the blood are dangerous so anyone taking lithium must have regular blood tests.
If you are prescribed drugs for depression you will probably be advised to take them for at least six months – or longer if you have a previous history of depression. You may experience withdrawal effects if you stop taking antidepressant drugs, particularly if you stop suddenly. These effects can include headache, nausea, dizziness and even hallucinations. Always consult your doctor before stopping taking anti-depressants. Do not stop taking medication suddenly as the withdrawal effects may be severe.
Talking treatments
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a type of ‘talking’ treatment. It is based on the fact that the way we feel is partly dependent on the way we think about events (cognition). It also stresses the importance of behaving in ways which challenge negative thoughts – for example being active to challenge feelings of hopelessness.
Interpersonal therapy (IPT) focuses on people’s relationships and on problems such as difficulties in communication, or coping with bereavement. There is some evidence that IPT can be as effective as medication or CBT but more research is needed.
Counselling is a form of therapy in which counsellors help people think about the problems they are experiencing in their lives and find new ways of coping with difficulties. They give support and help people find their own solutions, rather than offering advice or treatment.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
ECT is a controversial treatment which is intended only to be used for people with severe depression who have not responded well to medication or other treatments. The person receiving ECT is given an anaesthetic and drugs to relax their muscles. They then receive an electrical ‘shock’ to the brain, through electrodes placed on the head. Most people are given a series of ECT sessions. Some people say that ECT is very helpful in relieving their depression, although others have reported unpleasant experiences, including memory problems.
For free advice on Depression or for a free consultation over the phone or in person ring 0151 678 3358 or 07714853 524 or visit http://www.clairehegarty.co.uk
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diane walker
http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/depression-what-is-depression-665085.html
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I really want to hear from teens that are cutting or thinking about suicide or those who used to cut and used to have suicidal thoughts, and how you overcame them. I have someone that is very near and dear to my heart that I very much want to help. All with serious answers please help.
I’m not getting many answers here, but I know you’re out there…but you don’t want everyone to know.
Email me !
First off, you’re right, this is an uncomfortable subject.
When I had this problem and friends around me had this problem, it was all because of emotional reasons. Things weren’t going the way we wanted them to in our lives and it was making us depressed. It built up all this stress that we felt like we couldn’t cope with anymore. Seeing blood and seeing that you can be injured was a way of knowing you’re mortal, you are human. It felt as if you were bleeding yourself of your ailments. Then, the thought of suicide offered an easy way to get out of it all. It was a solution to rid you of all the stress. That way, when everything came out, you wouldn’t have to be around to hear what others are saying and it would all be gone. Most of the cutting and suicidal tendencies that friends and I faced were affected by the way we viewed ourselves in our peers eyes and not the way we viewed ourselves.
When I stopped, it’s because I realized what it was doing to people around me. It was only later on what I realized I was doing to myself. I saw the looks on the other people’s faces when they saw the marks. I noticed the way they reacted when I told them a made-up, impractical story to try to cover it up. It’s when people started talking is when it actually stopped. I woke up to see that others would lose respect for me if they knew I had such a strange problem. I realized that I would always be watched and I could never really do what I wanted to do without being cared for; cradled. And now, when I see the scars, I realize that I lived though whatever I was going through, and now things are better.
To help that person who is dear to you, you need to care for them. I know it’s an obvious answer, but it’s exactly what you have to do. I know that if there was someone out there who told me that I would get through the hard times, I wouldn’t have hurt myself. If someone was by my side telling me that everything gets better and I’ll learn to love my life, I wouldn’t have made so many bad choices. After I went through my problem and got over it, it was time to help my best friend.
My best friend’s step father was on suicide watch with a drinking problem. She’s never met her real father, but she has no respect for him because of the stories she had been told. Her mother was always finding problems with her no matter what she did and she began to drink too. Then my friend, a really good girl, began to drink, cut, and try to end her life. After I was done with my issues, I did for her EXACTLY what I wished someone would have done for me. I stood by her. I took away her opportunities to make bad decisions and replaced them with fun activities that didn’t involve those bad choices. We went to movies, the beach, and just hung out and all the while I told her that life doesn’t have to be the depressing place she sees it as. It can be so much fun as I was showing her, and then she stopped. She saw the truth like I did. She saw that I was there for her.
I hope that all of this helps you. I hope you can understand your dear one’s problems now and have some idea of what they are going through. This firsthand account should be your way of explaining to them exactly what I explained to my best friend and what I wish could have been explained to me much earlier.
"Life goes on and it’s amazing. And I’m glad to know that you’ll always be there proving that to me."
-my best friend
~AdeptChick1
Amber
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This is a general question, asking for some "Natural” ways to overcome depression and anxiety. I know that there are prescription drugs you can take so I don’t need any advice on that. But are there any sleeping methods, or good things to eat or drink, etc. to get over anxiety and depression
Try Dianetics. Watch the introduction video
http://www.dianetics.org
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So for History class we were divided into a few groups and each group got a question. My group’s question was:
How was the world depression in the 1930s a threat to international peace? Describe Manchuria during 1931-33 and Abyssinia during 1935-36.
I’ve found a few good sources for Manchuria/Abyssinia, but I need help with the first part of the question. Please include your sources.
The Depression caused anger and resentment amongst people through out the world. With promises of glory and returns to economic prosperity, fascist leaders such as Hitler and Mussolini gained power and began military campaigns. This includes Japan’s invasion of Manchuria and Italy’s conflicts in Abyssinia (Ethiopia). The depression led to strong feelings of regaining national pride which eventually led to World War II.
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