Nobody wants to be a bother and you are no exception. You might have noticed a loss of short term memory and maybe even had an episode of an unexplained crying spell or suddenly realized that your overall positive outlook on life is no longer as good as it used to be. You may find yourself too tired to get out of bed and no longer interested in visiting with friends and family members.

If you are fortunate, you will have a caregiver who will be dogging you to find help and get to a doctor. If you do not have such an individual in your life it is vital that you do not fall into the trap of self medicating with alcohol or questionable herbal supplements that you may find advertised on the Internet, the television, or the health aisle of the store.

Continue reading " Guide to Dealing with Elderly Depression "

Old age brings a significant reduction in mental and physical abilities. This translates into an inability to fight disease and handle difficult situations. This sudden reduction in capabilities causes depression due to low self-esteem. Strength of character and previous achievements are no guarantee against depression as it can occur even without any visible precipitating factor. Certain drugs and medication can be used to treat depression. However, over-prescription of these very drugs can cause further depression if not ingested carefully.

Apart from the conventional medications, there are other methods of treating depression naturally like psychotherapy or €˜talk therapy ‘. There are also natural remedies for depression like herbs, homeopathy meditation, hot baths and other relaxation techniques.

For older people doctors normally choose antidepressants that work upon brain chemicals called neurotransmitters responsible for moods, thought and behaviors. One such category of antidepressants that is in use nowadays is SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). For psychotic depression that is accompanied by hallucinations and delusions, an antipsychotic drug is prescribed along with an antidepressant.

Continue reading " Depression Treatment Guidelines for Old People "

Clues can be invaluable to the caregiver or professional who is concerned about an elderly individual and they are adamant about not feeling sad. Clues can be both physical and emotional in nature and include aches and pains that are vague or unexplained, seeming to be or expressing hopelessness, helplessness or when the individual shows signs of being anxious or having excessive worries.

They can also express a loss of feeling any pleasure in life, are having physical signs of moving slowly without any physical reason for doing so, are irritable, are experiencing memory problems or show any signs of an outward appearance of lacking in personal care (not eating, neglecting personal hygiene, forgetting to take medications).

Ironically, some of the symptoms of depression can make it difficult for the individual to seek medical help. It falls upon caring family members, friends or neighbors to make the suggestion to seek help. Another factor that discourages elderly adults from seeking help is the social stigma prevalent in the age that seniors of today were growing up in.

Continue reading " Detecting Depression in the Elderly "

You and your best friend may both be seniors who have found through one of the depression screenings that you are at risk for suffering from depressions. Who knows, you may have even gone to the doctor together to get diagnosed and while you both were diagnosed with a cause of depression, you and your friend were prescribed different medications . What gives?

One size does not fit all when treating elderly depression with antidepressants and physicians understand that depending on your age, medical history, overall health, and also severity of symptoms you may or may not need one kind of medication over another. Additionally, some medications will interact negatively with others and your prescribing physician will be careful to not have drugs adversely interacting with one another.

Keep in mind that antidepressants do not cure depression! Instead, they will help you to manage your symptoms to such an extent that you can once again engage in the daily battle of dealing with life and also pursuing your health.

Continue reading " One Size Does Not Fit All When Treating Elderly Depression with Antidepressants "