MID-LIFE DEPRESSION
TRIGGERS & SOLUTIONS
A 2008 study of data from 2 million people found
that mid-life depression spans the globe.
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TRIGGERS
OVERLOAD
- Many middle age men & women often feel overloaded with the demands of children, aging parents, marriage & their job
- They feel sad, worthless & sometimes guilty
- Women tend to shoulder more of the 'sandwich generation burdens & up to half become depressed as a result
- Solutions
To avoid this, make sure you're caring for yourself by doing
1. Exercise
2. Geting enough rest
3. Eating healthy
4. Seeing friends
5. Getting help for caregiving demands & depression if you need it
LOW VITAMIN B12
- If you're feeling lethargic or depressed, too little vitamin B12 may be to blame
- If you're older, you're more at risk for the B12 blues because you may not have enough stomach acid to release B12 from food
- Solutions:
1. Ask your doctor to measure levels of B12 in your blood
2. If it's low, talk to your doctor about diet, oral supplements, or an injection to see what might
be right for you
PERI-MENOPAUSE & MENOPAUSE
- Hormone fluctuations, hot flashes & life changes related to peri-menopause & menopause can make your mood plummet
- If you have trouble sleeping, a history of depression or PMS, mood swings or depression may worsen during this transitional period
- Solutions:
1. For mild depression, try self-calming skills such as yoga or deep breathing
2. Do things that make you feel better, such as exercise or going out with friends, or find a
creative outlet
2. For more serious, long-lasting symptoms of depression, prescription medication or talk
therapy can help
CHANGES IN SEX DRIVE
- As men age, their bodies produce less of the important sex hormone testosterone
- Low testosterone levels can cause depression, as well as erectile dysfunction (ED) & a decreased interest in sex
- Solutions:
1. Ask your doctor to test the levels of testosterone in your blood
2. If it is low, ask your doctor about replacement therapy & other treatment options
THYROID DISORDERS
- Depression can be one symptom of an underactive or occasionally overactive thyroid
- If you are older, it may be the only symptom or it may appear with a subtle symptom
- In the case of overactive thyroid, it could be accompanied by heart flutters, tremors, or fatigue
- An underactive thyroid can cause constipation or fatigue
- That's why this very treatable problem is often mistaken for bowel or nervous system disorders in older people
- Solution: See your doctor, especially if a close relative has thyroid disease.
ACHY JOINTS
- Living with a condition that causes chronic pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, increases the chance of having depressio
- People with chronic pain are 3 times as likely to have depression or an anxiety disorder & depression can make pain worse
- Solutions:
1. Exercise, meditate or listen to music
2. An hour of classical music a day has been shown to ease arthritis pain & depression
3. If the depression or pain doesn't lift, talk to your doctor
THE EMPTY NEST
- If your child has left home, an 'empty nest' can make you feel empty
- Going through menopause or retirement at the same time may make it harder
- Solutions:
1. Try to see it as an opportunity
2. Reconnect with your spouse, other family members & friends
3. Pursue hobbies & interests you didn't have time for before
4. Give yourself time to adjust but if your mood doesn't lift in a few months, talk to your doctor
TYPE 2 DIABETES
- Depression is a common & dangerous complication of many chronic conditions, including diabetes
- Depression also may keep you from taking good care of your diabetes
1. Do you feel too listless to check your blood sugar regularly?
2. Are unpredictable blood sugar levels making you feel out of control? - Solutions:
1. Talk to your doctor if you've been depressed for more than two weeks
2. Talk therapy, medication & better diabetes control can help you manage both conditions
3. Depression is serious & if left untreated can be life threatening
DRINKING
- About 1 in 4 older people who drink heavily has major depression
- Some older people start drinking more because of stressful events, such as retirement or a spouse's death
- Alcohol problems are often mistaken for other age-related issues
- Solutions:
1. A combination of medications can treat both alcohol dependence & depression
2. Individual or group therapy can also help deal with issues that may trigger drinking
POOR SLEEP
- Insomnia & other sleep disruptions, which are common as we age, are closely related to depression
- Insomnia can be a sign that you are depressed & if you have insomnia but aren’t depressed, you’re at higher risk of developing mood changes
- Obstructive sleep apnea & restless legs syndrome also have been linked to depression
- Solutions:
1. Talk to your doctor about possible reasons for your sleep problems & get treatment for them
2. Learn good sleep hygiene habits, such as regular bedtime hours
3. Exercise early regularly & avoid caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine, which interfere with sleep
4. Prescription medication may also help
RETIREMENT
- If you were forced into retirement because of poor health or other reasons, you might very
well be depressed - Factors such as financial insecurity or lack of social support can also make retirement tough
- Solutions:
Busy retirees tend to be happier retirees
1. Learn new skills
2. Take classes
3. Get exercise
4. If your health makes activities like travel difficult, take in museums & foreign films
HEART PROBLEMS
- It's common to feel depressed after a diagnosis of heart disease or having a heart attack or cardiac surgery
- Many people with heart disease go on to experience severe, long-term depression which can worsen heart health
- Solutions:
1. A healthy diet, sleep, mild exercise, relaxation techniques & joining a support group can
help you get through the blues
2. If depression lasts, anti-depressants or talk therapy can help
BLOOD PRESSURE PILLS
- Could the drugs you take for high blood pressure or other health problems also be bringing
you down? - Some blood pressure medicines as well as certain antibiotics, antiarrhythmics, acne products
& steroids, among other drugs,- may be associated with depression or other mood changes - Solutions:
1. Be sure to ask your doctor if any new medications you may be taking could be linked with changes in mood
2. If it is, you may be able to switch to another drug
LONELINESS
- Social support can help prevent or ease depression
- Some kinds of social support may be better than others
1. A study of people in a retirement community found that those who stayed connected with friends living elsewhere had less depression
2. Support from within the community didn't affect mood - Solutions:
1. Maintain ties with close friends & family members
2. Explore Internet technology that can give you virtual face-time with distant friends
HEATH ISSUES
- Any chronic or serious condition, such as Parkinson's disease or a stroke, can lead to depression
- A stroke can also affect the areas of the brain that control mood
- Solutions:
1. Be realistic but positive
2. Learn how to cope with physical effects of your illness
3. Don't let them get in the way of taking care of yourself & having fun
4. If you have symptoms of depression, don't wait, get help right away
SENIOR MOMENTS
- If you're feeling foggy & forgetful, it could be depression or dementia, a condition marked by memory loss
- The signs & symptoms can be similar or it could be both
- Depression is more common in older people who have dementia, especially Alzheimer's
- Solution: If you don't know what's causing your symptoms, see your doctor so you can get
the right treatment, if necessary
GRIEF
- It's normal to grieve after losing a spouse or other loved one but frief can grow into depression
- Memory problems, confusion & social withdrawal can be symptoms of depression in older people
- Both grief & depression raise the risk for heart-related deaths
- Solutions:
1. Let yourself grieve
2. Express your feelings to friends, in a support group, or to a grief counselor
3. For depression, medication & talk therapy can help
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ANY AGE MOOD BOOSTERS
A PET
- To keep your mood up, it helps to have good emotional & social support
- Studies show that pets can help people have less depression, loneliness, more self-esteem
& happiness - Pets are friends but in addition walking a dog is good exercise & a great way to meet people
LAUGHTER
- A good laugh can relax muscles, reduce stress & relieve pain
- Research suggests that a good sense of humor can lower depression
- For humor on demand, create a laugh library of funny books, cartoons & DVDs or try
laughter yoga, which uses playful activities & breathing exercises to provoke laughter
VOLUNTEER
- Helping others can help you forget your own problems
- Volunteering feels good at any age, but it may hold special benefits for older people
- If retirement has you adrift,it can give your life a new sense of purpose & satisfaction
- Recent research suggests that it may even prevent frailty in older people
- Find a cause that has special importance to you & get involved
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Health Directory | Foods That Help Fight Depression | Signs Of Depression
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