Are You Feeling Nostalgic?
It is normal to feel nostalgic. Likewise, it is natural for seniors to feel sad when recalling the past and good times shared with others. Although those emotions might be challenging at times to address and view, we must accept that they are normal.
At times, those emotions may become concerning and grow into depression. Depression is typical in seniors, with some estimates depicting that 8% to 16% of seniors have clinically substantial depressive symptoms, and 5% of individuals who don’t live in nursing homes meet major depressive disorder criteria.
Feeling “low,” down, or sad is just one depressive symptom. An individual also may lose interest in or no longer appreciate tasks. They might experience issues with sleep – either sleeping a lot less or a lot more than before. Depressed people might complain of low energy and frequently ruminate, guilty or intrusive thoughts. Their appetite might decline, and their weight might be lost.
Someone with depression might find it difficult to motivate themselves to get up each morning or find it challenging to sit still, continuously fidgeting throughout the day. Concentration might be impaired – they might not be able to concentrate on what they’re doing. Folks who suffer from depression even may state that they believe that life isn’t worth living or that they are “better off dead.” In severe cases, they even may attempt or contemplate suicide.
It isn’t necessary to have all those symptoms to experience depression; however, if someone says they feel depressed the majority of the day or have a loss of interest in tasks once enjoyed, and they have 4 of the ten symptoms previously described for 2+ weeks, they meet major depressive disorder diagnosis criteria.
Depression Treatments:
Thankfully, depression treatments are readily available. Medicine may be started to reduce the depressive symptoms an individual is experiencing. However, for the ones who aren’t tolerant of those medications, or in cases in which the medicine doesn’t work, psychotherapy – the treatment of mental health issues by consulting a psychologist, psychiatrist, or additional mental health provider – may be just as effective in treating depression. However, the senior suffering the symptoms must be prepared to speak of their feelings, which may be challenging.
Neighbors, friends, and families of seniors ought to look for changes in the older person’s behavior or mood. It might be a sign of depression. If you see something concerning or different, do not ignore it. Ask the individual you are concerned about if they are feeling sad, low, or down. Keep an eye on how they are doing. If their mood does not improve or worsen over a couple of weeks. You should recommend seeing a physician to determine if their feelings are more severe than the loneliness, nostalgia, and sadness often accompanying the holidays. It would be best if you also supported the elderly individual as they manage their depression.