Feeling Blue Not a Normal Part of Aging

New booklet helps seniors deal with depression

May 23, 2005, Chicago, IL – Many older Americans think that feeling depressed is just part of growing older. They believe sadness, irritability, aches and pains, and feelings of hopelessness just come with age. However, these feelings are not a normal part of aging. In fact, such symptoms can be a sign of depression – a serious medical illness affecting more and more seniors every year.

Growing older usually brings lifestyle changes that may contribute to feelings of sadness or grief. Changes such as the loss of a spouse, illness, moving to assisted living facilities, death of friends or family or children moving away can cause such feelings. But when those feelings last for weeks or inhibit your daily activities it may be a sign of something more serious that requires a doctor’s care.

In recognition of Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Week May 22-28, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is encouraging older adults to pay attention to their feelings that may be symptoms of depression so they are offering a free booklet called, “Coping with Mood Changes Later in Life.” The booklet covers topics such as the difference between grief and depression; what to expect from treatment and how to reduce the cost of treatment. 

It is so important to get the treatment you need.  If left untreated, depression can affect your health, quality of life and be life-threatening – even leading to suicide.  Research has found that suicide rates increase with age and are very high in those over 65, with the highest rates of suicide in the United States found in white men over the age of 85.

Dr. Mildred Reynolds, licensed certified social worker and psychotherapist, knows the importance of older adults seeking treatment for their depression – now age 75, she has been living with depression for more than 40 years. “Many older Americans are from a generation where they are taught not to talk about their feelings or to feel sorry for themselves. But depression is not a normal part of aging, it is a real medical illness that can be treated. Talking about your feelings with your doctor will help you get a faster diagnosis and get you on the road to recovery,” explains Reynolds.

If you’re an older adult, ask yourself the following questions. Do you often feel?

• Tired all of the time or completely slowed down?
• Worthless?
• Like life is not worth living?
• Like you have no one that loves you?
• You don’t enjoy things the way you used to?
• Feel empty inside?
• Restless or irritable?
• Are you sleeping more or less than usual?
• Are you eating more or less than usual?

If you answered yes to three or more of these questions and have felt this way for two weeks or more, you may have depression and should visit your doctor immediately.

Some people, including doctors, think depression is normal in older people.  It’s not.  And when older people become depressed, doctors might not recognize it.  That’s because older people might not talk about their feelings or because they have other health conditions that need attention.

Depression also often occurs with other serious illnesses you may have such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and Parkinson’s disease. Often medical professionals mistakenly conclude that depression is a result of these other illnesses, an attitude often shared by patients themselves. What many seniors don’t know is that it is really important for their depression to be treated when it co-occurs with these other illnesses because untreated depression can delay recovery or even worsen the outcomes of other illnesses.

To request the “Coping with Mood Changes Later in Life” free booklet or learn more about dealing with depression or bipolar disorder as an older adult, contact DBSA by calling 800/826-3632 or by visiting www.DBSAlliance.org.

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The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is the nation’s leading patient-directed organization focusing on depression and bipolar disorder. The organization, which has more than 1,000 support groups nationwide, fosters an understanding about the impact and management of these life-threatening illnesses by providing up-to-date, scientifically-based tools and information.  Assisted by a 65-member scientific advisory board, comprised of the leading researchers and clinicians in the field of mood disorders, DBSA supports research to promote more timely diagnosis, develop more effective and tolerable treatments and discover a cure. More than 4 million receive information and assistance each year.  For more information, please visit www.DBSAlliance.org or call 800/826-3632. 

**MILDRED REYNOLDS IS AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS**

DBSA is an Older Women’s League Partner in Promoting Mental Health for Older Americans.