Depression is common in senior adults. As you age, sometimes you cannot avoid being lonely, feeling hopeless, or even helpless. These feelings of sadness are things no one wants in their life. It doesn’t have to be this way if you learn some steps to prevent depression as you grow older.

Losing interest in the things that you usually do is often triggered by a change you have encountered – death of a spouse, stressful events, or medical problems. But this does not have to be the norm, nor is it a necessary part of aging, and it is definitely not a sign of weakness. Depression can happen to anyone, at any age. A lot of older adults with depression may need to seek treatment to feel better but this is not true for everyone.

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Prevention is better than cure. In order to prevent depression, you need to know the signs and be ready to fight.

Loss of interest in socializing

Seeing anybody or doing anything is a struggle if you are suffering from depression. But disconnecting or isolating yourself will only make your depression worse. You need to make an effort to connect and interact with other people. Limit your time alone. The more engaged you are, the better you’ll feel. If going out is not an option, you can invite your family and friends to visit you to keep in touch. There are also other activities that can help you. Simple activities like walking in the park will give you the chance to see other people. There are support groups for people suffering from depression. In joining these support groups, you will be able to talk about what makes you feel that way and you will be able to meet strangers that are suffering from the same illness with you.

There are support groups for people suffering from depression. In joining these support groups, you will be able to talk about what makes you feel the way you do and you will be able to meet others that are dealing with the same illness and learn how they manage and cope.

Neglecting personal care

It’s hard to find motivation to do anything if you are depressed. You tend to forget to take care of yourself. This can make things worse if you begin to look the way you feel. You may discover that you are losing weight or even if you have the medical condition due to lack of caring for your body. Look for small ways to move your body. You can walk your dog which will also help you meet other people or even do light house works. Exercise is a powerful treatment for depression. Eating the right way also will change everything. Your dietary habits also make a difference when it comes to depression. Look out for foods that can help you brighten up your mood but consider eating healthy to make you stronger.

Look for small ways to keep moving. You can walk your dog which will also help you meet other people or even do light housework. Exercise is a simple, yet powerful treatment for depression. Eating right will also change everything. Your dietary habits make a big difference when it comes to depression. Look for foods to help lift your mood but consider eating healthy to also make you stronger.

Sleep disturbances

The relationship between sleep and depression is complicated. Depression may cause an inability to sleep well or your sleep problems may cause depression. Many adults struggle with sleeping problems like insomnia. But not getting enough of sleep can only make depression worse. The average sleep time our body needs is between 7-9 hours. Avoiding alcohol or caffeinated drinks will give you better quality sleep. Alcohol can also worsen the symptoms of anxiety and depression. It may make you drowsy, but it will never give you the deep refreshing sleep that you need.

Depression can be disabling if you allow it to get the best of you, but there is hope. Remember, prevention is always better than cure.

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