I have been in and out of depression for the past month.

“So what? I feel the same way too,” you may shoot back.

And you are right. Depression is common among the elderly. In fact, about 6 million Americans are often in and out of depression.

But just because it is common does not diminish its seriousness.

Let me explain…

A month ago, my brother-in-law, after a long bout with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), went into a deep depression resulting in his committing suicide by shooting himself in the head.

In a moment of incomprehensible insanity, a lifetime of friendship and kinship ended. My memories of a lighthearted, friendly and easy to get along with, supplanted by his lifeless body sprawled, face down, on the floor of his living room.

It hit me like a sledgehammer in the gut not only because of he was the hubby of my sister but also because we knew each other since elementary grades.

The sight was so heart-wrenching I cried like a child.

What is depression and how to know if you are depressed:
Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness negatively affecting your feelings, thoughts, and actions.

It manifests differently in different people. On the whole, you know you are in a depression if you feel buried in deep shit.

When I have it, I would feel tired, listless, no appetite in doing anything, and my mind is in shutdown mode. It makes me feel like crawling into a deep hole or take a long drive to anywhere but here.

For most, the common symptoms are:
–  Feeling sad for no reason at all;
–  Changes in appetite or having sleep problems;
–  Difficulty in concentrating or thinking;
–  Thoughts of suicide.

Depression is bad for seniors because it increases the risk of cardiac disease or death from a non-related illness.

Seniors suffering from depression will take time to heal or rehabilitate from a medical condition and the high possibility of death following a heart attack.

On the positive side, depression is treatable.

How to cope with depression:
I experienced mild depression when my wife died. Fearing of ugly consequences, my daughter took me to an Internist who prescribed anti-depressants.

After two days of use, I realized its cost impact on my budget over the long haul. So I decided to deal with it my way.

Depression is a disease of the mind and the only way to cure it is to cure the mind.

Here’s how to do it:

1.  Contemplate:
Take some time off by yourself and contemplate on your situation. Analyze the reasons for your depression and its consequences.

Contemplation opens up your mind, allows you to have a better perspective of what’s going on in your head.

It will unclutter your mind and makes you think clearer and better.

2.  Talk to someone:
Talk to family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers or anybody who can lend you an ear.

Talk about anything, i.e., the latest news, the best restaurant in town, the weather, health, family, or hobbies.

Bear in mind though that this is not a one-way street. They, too, have things to say. So show genuine interest when they open up. Learn from them, see how they handle life’s adversities, what makes them click.

Talking to someone will take your mind off yourself. It will enrich your mind; makes you feel good about yourself.

3.  Keep busy:
Another way of keeping your mind off depressive thoughts is to keep busy. This might require some effort because depression often robs you of the motivation to do anything. But it is an effort worth spending.

There are so many ways to keep busy such as doing household chores, play a musical instrument, learn something new, develop a hobby, go fishing, collect stamps or old coins among others.

Keeping busy is also a good exercise for both body and mind.

4.  Seek professional help:
If everything fails, seek professional help. They are trained to handle depressive disorders and can help you get to the bottom of things; sort them out so you can handle them properly.

This should be taken as a last resort, though.

Why?

They may be able to show you out of your depression, or prescribe medications but you still have to walk the lonely path in getting rid of the devils confronting you.

I take the suicide of my brother-in-law personally because it was so close to home; so close to my heart. But his case is not rare.

Read more…

Suicides resulting from depression is the 10th leading cause of death in  the U.S. In 2014, 16,467 adult and elderly people committed suicide. The figures could be higher if the families were not hesitant or reluctant in reporting suicide involving family members.

Save an elderly’s life by sharing this posrt.

Image: https://pixabay.com/en/old-people-s-home-dementia-man-old-524234/

~oOo~

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