Depression In Senior Adults: 8 Strategies for Managing Depression in Adults

Depression is a mental health concern that affects individuals across various age groups, including the elderly population. While occasional feelings of sadness are common, persistent depression is not a normal aspect of the aging process. Depression in older adults can reduce their overall quality of life and even elevate the risk of suicide. In this article, we will explore the common symptoms of depression in elderly adults, along with seven coping strategies that can be beneficial in reducing the risk of this condition.

Common Symptoms of Depression:

The symptoms of depression are consistent across all age groups and may include:

Sadness

Feelings of worthlessness

Fatigue

Irritability

Lack of concentration

Restlessness

Changes in appetite

Withdrawal

Sleep problems

Coping Strategies to Reduce the Risk of Depression in Elderly Adults:

1. Engagement in Meaningful Activities:

Encouraging elderly individuals to participate in meaningful activities can significantly reduce the risk of depression. Whether it involves pursuing a hobby, joining a club, or volunteering for a cause they are passionate about, these activities offer a sense of accomplishment, social connection, and fulfillment. This not only alleviates feelings of loneliness and isolation but also promotes positive mental health.

                                          GOOGLE AD

2. Cultivating Social Connections:

Fostering regular interactions with family members, friends, and neighbors plays a crucial role in enhancing emotional well-being. The availability of technology has made it easier for seniors to stay connected regardless of geographical distances. Facilitating the use of video calls or online platforms can help maintain relationships with loved ones, even when physical limitations are present.

3. Prioritizing Physical Health:

Regular exercise, including low-impact activities such as walking, yoga, or swimming, has been proven to improve mood and reduce depression symptoms in elderly individuals. Engaging in physical activity contributes to both physical and mental well-being.

4. Avoiding Alcohol and Smoking as Coping Mechanisms:

Using alcohol as a temporary escape from emotional distress can exacerbate depressive symptoms. Alcohol acts as a depressant on the central nervous system, affecting brain chemistry and disrupting sleep patterns. It is essential for elderly adults to refrain from excessive alcohol consumption and smoking to maintain their mental well-being.

5. Practicing Yoga and Meditation:

Meditation and yoga are recognized for their stress-reduction and mental well-being benefits. These practices involve mindfulness, gentle movements, controlled breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques, which help balance the mind and body. Yoga and meditation are effective tools for easing the symptoms of depression.

                                          GOOGLE AD

7. Adopting a Healthy Diet:

Diet plays a crucial role in managing depression. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon and sardines, have been associated with lower depression rates and regulation of neurotransmitters that impact mood. On the contrary, highly processed foods with excessive carbohydrates and sugar are linked to various metabolic disorders. Focusing on whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and legumes can make a noticeable difference in mental well-being.

8. Seeking Therapy:

Various therapeutic approaches can assist elderly individuals dealing with depression. Art therapy offers a creative outlet to express feelings, while psychotherapy provides a private and supportive environment to discuss and address personal concerns.

Conclusion:

Depression in elderly adults is a significant concern that can impact their overall well-being. By implementing these coping strategies, seniors can reduce the risk of depression and enhance their mental and emotional health, ultimately enjoying a higher quality of life during their golden years.

                                          GOOGLE AD

10 Early Signs Of Depression To Watch Out For

                                          GOOGLE AD

Depression is a mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. While it can manifest differently in each individual, there are common early signs and symptoms that can serve as crucial indicators. Recognizing these signs early can lead to prompt intervention and support. In this article, we will explore ten early signs of depression that everyone should be vigilant about.

1. Persistent Sadness

Feeling persistently sad or down for an extended period, often without an obvious cause, is a significant red flag. It might be a sense of hopelessness, emptiness, or an overwhelming feeling of sadness.

2. Loss of Interest

A noticeable decrease in interest or enjoyment in activities that once brought pleasure can indicate depression. This includes hobbies, socializing, or even work-related tasks.

3. Changes in Sleep Patterns

Depression can disrupt your sleep routine. You might experience insomnia, struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep, or conversely, you may oversleep, finding it hard to get out of bed.

                                          GOOGLE AD

4. Fatigue and Low Energy

A constant feeling of fatigue and low energy levels, regardless of the amount of rest you get, is a common sign of depression. Simple tasks can become overwhelming.

5. Changes in Appetite and Weight

Depression can affect your eating habits, leading to a significant loss or gain in weight. This may result from either overeating or having no appetite at all.

6. Irritability

Irritability, increased frustration, or a shorter temper than usual can also be early signs of depression. Small annoyances may feel overwhelming.

7. Difficulty Concentrating

Depression can impact your ability to focus and make decisions. Tasks that once seemed simple may become challenging, and you may have trouble remembering things.

                                          GOOGLE AD

8. Physical Symptoms

Depression can manifest in physical symptoms like headaches, digestive issues, and other unexplained aches and pains. These physical symptoms often accompany emotional distress.

9. Social Withdrawal

A person experiencing depression may withdraw from social interactions, avoiding friends and family, and isolating themselves from loved ones.

10. Suicidal Thoughts

Perhaps the most alarming sign of depression is having thoughts of self-harm or suicide. If you or someone you know is experiencing these thoughts, it's crucial to seek professional help immediately.

Conclusion

Depression is a complex and often misunderstood condition, but early recognition and intervention are essential in managing it effectively. If you or someone you know is showing these early signs of depression, it's important to reach out to a mental health professional, a healthcare provider, or a trusted person for support and guidance. Depression is treatable, and with the right assistance, individuals can find their way towards recovery and improved mental well-being.

 

                                          GOOGLE AD

Benefits of Swimming: Weight loss, Anti-ageing, Physical, Mental health and More..

During hot summer months, you can enjoy the most refreshing swimming session in the pool. Moreover, swimming offers several amazing health benefits too. Here is the list of all the goodness and health benefits from swimming.

                                          GOOGLE AD

1. Slows down Ageing process

According to research studies at Indiana University, regular swimming biologically makes you at least 20 years younger. Swimming is very beneficial in case of blood pressure, cardiovascular performance, central nervous system health, cholesterol levels, muscle mass and mental functioning.

2. Healthy for Lungs and Heart

While swimming, your face is under the water where there is maximum dissolved oxygen. Your body adapts to using the oxygen in the water more efficiently. Your body learns to inhale more fresh air whenever you lift your head above water level. Also, whenever you exhale or breathe out more carbon dioxide is expelled fully from the body. Thus, complete inhale and exhale make your lungs function more effectively.

                                          GOOGLE AD

Magical Benefits of Swimming

Builds Bone Strength

Aids Weight Loss

Tones and Strengthens Muscles

Improves Heart Health

Improves Asthma

May Increase Neurogenesis

Improves Flexibility

Improves Body Coordination

Lowers Triglyceride in Elderly

Helps Children with Cerebral Palsy

3. Stress Buster

Swimming produces more endorphin levels causing improved stress levels. During swimming, being in the water numbs and/or dulls sensory information to various parts of the body. As a result, you feel calm. According to research studies, regular flotation in the water helps in relieving symptoms due to chronic stress. 

                                          GOOGLE AD

4. Improves Sleep

Swimming is an intense exercise and makes you completely tired. Swimming for around 2 times per week does not cause insomnia or disturbed sleep. This has been confirmed from research studies on how swimming helps in goodnight sleep.

5. Low-Impact workout

Swimming is awesome exercise if you suffer from joint problems and/or injury. Swimming can be practised regularly at high intensity without causing any harmful impacts to the body. Your body does not undergo any wear and tear. When you wish to stay away from stress and strain to your body, you can swim. Moreover, swimming helps in rapid recovery of your body.

GOOGLE AD

Constant Headache? Your Body is Telling You Something About Your Health

Generally, getting headaches are common amongst people. The causes of headaches are also very normal. It has been observed that women tend to mainly suffer from nagging, throbbing headaches. Often, headaches are caused due to simple reasons. These include staying up late, walking under the hot sun and/or stressing over exam or work.

                                          GOOGLE AD

Headaches cause a lot of pain on forehead and head. Yet, in reality the pain from headaches is not due to pain in the brain. Typically, the brain informs you about the aches and pains in different parts of the body. However, the brain itself does not feel any pain.

Kids Health website has reported that headaches occur in blood vessels, muscles and nerves of head and neck. When muscles and/or blood vessels get swollen and tighten, the surrounding nerves get stimulated and pressurised. As a result, nerves send signals of rushing pain to the brain ending up in headaches. After going through the above information, you realise how you get headaches.

Since headaches are not caused by the brain itself. Here are implications of general health. You should take care to cure various health conditions caused due to internal and/or external stimuli.

1. You are Anemic

Severe anemia causes headache. Fortunately, if you have iron-deficiency anemia, it's curable by increasing iron intake.

Read: 32 Natural home remedies for anemia and poor appetite.

                                          GOOGLE AD

2. You are Stressed

Stress and depression are leading causes to getting constant headaches. When you frequently get headaches, you should analyse what is going on in your life. You might notice you experience stress causing situations often or in daily basis. You need to deal with these stressful situations or find an alternate solution. Thereafter you would be able to lead a life with no headaches.

Read: 28 Natural home remedies for Headaches, Migraine, Sinus

3. Your Blood pressure might be Higher

High blood pressure causes hypertension which leads to headaches. Maintain your blood pressure is normal to avoid migraines.

4. You are Dehydrated

Drink enough water, as dehydration may cause headaches and migrain. The exact reason associating water with getting headaches is still unknown. Yet, medical experts believe that drinking water and keeping hydrated helps in maintaining blood volumes. Blood supplies oxygen to all parts of the body including the brain. Hence, maintaining adequate blood volume by drinking water is recommended.

                                          GOOGLE AD

5. You’ve Chronic Disease

Headache is common side effect of many chronic health issues like diabetes fibromyalgia and lupus. When you suffer from chronic headaches, you should consult your doctor. He/She should diagnose any underlying condition(s) that might be causing your severe headaches.

6. You have Brain issues

When you suddenly experience headaches you have never encountered you should seriously consider seeing your doctor. If you have never got headaches before, then you should go for brain scanning. This test helps in diagnosing if you are getting something as serious as brain tumour. In that case, your headache gets worse day by day and you live in agony.

                                          GOOGLE AD

7. You need Rest and Break

When you do not get enough quality sleep, you can end up with serious headaches. This also occurs when your sleep pattern gets modified. Not getting sufficient sleep results in physical and mental exhaustion. Your body gets fatigued and directly impacts the tired mind that cannot concentrate. You should begin by taking a nap. Sometimes when you are too tired, it is impossible to naturally fall asleep. Hence, it is best to consult your doctor for medical advice.

8. Your Estrogen levels Dropped

Menstruation is one of the main migraine triggers in women. During menstruation, the increased level of estrogen causes severe headaches and migraines. Also, during perimenopause and postpartum, women get headaches from decreased level of estrogen. Hence, women are vulnerable to headaches whenever there is a change in level of estrogen.

GOOGLE AD

                                          GOOGLE AD

                                          GOOGLE AD

                                          GOOGLE AD

7 Warning Signals you’re Stressed! Even if you think you’re not

We tend to associate stress with symptoms such as blinding headaches and other chaotic characteristics. Yet, stress can impact your body in several ways that you never imagined. You can get the following symptoms breakouts on your skin, cold sores, getting sick and more. The root cause of all these health issues is nothing but stress. Here is a comprehensive list of some subtle stress symptoms caused within your body.

1. Stomach problems

If you suffer from constant cramps, heartburns and nausea, then most cases it is because of stress. Even if you eat a balanced diet, stress can disrupt all healthy digestive functions.

                                          GOOGLE AD

2. Skin problems

Even after trying all methods of skin care, the condition of your skin remains unchanged. Your skin just does not clear up and you cannot get rid of your cold sores. Then, blame it on your high stress level. It has been scientifically proved that stress stimulates nerve endings reaching the skin. As a result, the skin reacts to stress causing breakouts of skin and cold sores.

3. Intolerable Headaches

When you are stressed out, your muscles get tensed. As a result you end up with an unbearable headache. People with migraines experience more severe headaches especially caused by stress.  

4. Excessive Hair fall

On an average, people lose around 50-100 strands of hair every day. However, stress actually causes your hair to fall more drastically. Under significant amount of stress, natural growth and rest hair cycle gets negatively affected. Moreover, stress can cause your immune system to attack and remove your hair follicles.

Read: How to Control Hair fall in few weeks

                                          GOOGLE AD

5. Weight gain

People under lots of stress tend to overeat, snacking between meals, craving and eating comfort foods. As a result, stress causes unnecessary weight gain. It has been observed that stress has a negative impact on the metabolic rate of the body.

6. Continuous Sickness

You find yourself continuously falling sick. You can be assured that it is because of to excessive stress within the body. Stress inhibits the immune system that cannot suppress virus and other germs. As a result, you often end up getting frequent cold and flu.

7. Lack of concentration

Stress has a negative impact on your body. As a matter of fact, stress also affects you mind negatively. When your body is under stress, it secretes stress hormones. These hormones make your mind foggy so you find it difficult to concentrate. When you do not mange stress on time, you can get mental health problems like depression and/or anxiety.

                                          GOOGLE AD

How to avoid unnecessary Stress in your life?

1. Learn to say ‘No’

Do not accept working more than your ability. Instead, learn to decline work requests when you have lots to work on. Do not get stressed out while working and meeting your deadlines.

2. Exercise 4-5 times a week

If you have not started exercising regularly, then it is time you start. You need to keep your body physically fit to avoid getting stressed out. 

3. Meditate

Keep aside 30-45 minutes for meditating on a daily basis. Generally, the same time for practising meditation is recommended.

4. Spend ‘Quality time’

You should spend time with people who love and care for you. These people would always make you feel happy that fights stress.

GOOGLE AD

                                          GOOGLE AD

                                          GOOGLE AD

                                          GOOGLE AD

12 natural home remedies for Depression, Stress, Fatigue, Anxiety

With the competitive & busy lives we lead today, anxiety, tension and stress are almost inevitable. Besides the busy life, a few are prone to anxiety & nervousness by nature than the others.

There are several factors causing this issue such as disturbed sleep, depression, nutritional deficiencies, adrenal disorders, nicotine, thyroid disorders and being on certain medications.

Common symptoms of anxiety

Following are few symptoms of anxiety:

Fear

Constant state of nervousness/worry

Restlessness

Shortness of breath

Headaches

Heart palpitations

Difficulty to sleep or staying asleep

Stomach upset

Dry mouth

Nausea

Fatigue & dizziness

Exhaustion

Irritability

Chest pain

Inability to concentrate

Similar to most other psychological disorders, anxiety is a bit tough to detect, especially since most of the symptoms are typical human reactions.

Natural home remedies Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Fatigue

1. Fennel

Fennel calms the nerves and reduces anxiety and depression. Fennel seeds and oil contains volatile oils which gives anxiety-relieving effect. It also reduces a gastrointestinal symptom that often occurs with anxiety.

1. Drop down few drops of fennel essential oil on your handkerchief and inhale the smell of it for about 30-40 minutes. Repeat smelling after regular intervals as needed.

2. Add 1 teaspoon of fennel seed powder in your regular boiling tea and drink it 3 times a day. 

2. Lavender

Lavender has a soothing & calming effect on one’s nervous system. It stimulates relaxation and alleviates depression.

1. Take 2 cups of water and boil it. Take two to four drops of lavender (in the form of essential oil) and add it to the boiling water. Inhale this steam. Repeat as and when needed. This will ease anxiety.

2. Another method: Take a teaspoon of almond oil/ olive oil (or other base oil). Add three to four drops of lavender oil to this. Massage this oil onto your back, shoulders & neck. This can be repeated every day or few times ever week until anxiety subsides.

3. Almonds

Almonds are rich sources of nutrients and omega-3 fatty acids which improves our mood and reduces anxiety, depression, tiredness and fatigue. omega-3 fatty acids has anti-inflammatory properties which fights cellular inflammation that breakdowns the signaling system between brain cells.

1. Soak 5-6 almonds in water overnight. In the next morning, remove the skin and grind them or crush them to form a paste. Mix this almond paste wth 1 tablespoon of ginger paste or powder in glass of warm milk. Do this on regular basis until you see desired improvement.

4. Green Tea

Green Tea or herbal tea is very beneficial in anxiety and depression treatment. It contains amino acid called L-theanine which maintains moderate level of heart rate and balanced blood pressure.

5. Chamomile

Matricaria Recutita  is a compound chamomile contains. This helps one to calm down and eases anxiety. Some people suffer from mild to moderate Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Chamomile helps ease anxiety symptoms in such people. It also provides relaxation and makes one feel drosy as it has a mild tranquilizing affect.

1. Take two or three teaspoons of chamomile (dried ones - especially German chamomile) add this to a cup of hot water and let it remain for three to five minutes time. Now, strain it. If you prefer, you can add few drops of honey and even cinnamon to this. This mixture should be consumed few times per day for a month (can continue until there is an improvement in anxiety levels).

NEXT PART 2

You can also Watch our YouTube video

GOOGLE AD