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Specific problems for elderly people
Chronic disease
A physical problem or disease which is lingering on for a considerable time, can weigh heavy on your heart and may eventually lead to depression. Treating the depression will not cure the disease but it can make the physical problem more bearable.
Memory problems
Because of inner restlessness and constant worrying, your memory may not be working so well anymore. In turn, that can cause fear of becoming senile. You are afraid of becoming demented and refuse to speak about your fear. The main difference, however, is that eldery people with depression are aware of the fact that they cannot remember things anymore and that demented people do not realise that that is their problem. Therefore, we must urge eldery people with memory problems to consult a specialist, because it may be a sign of early depression and not of demention at all.
Loneliness
Elderly people are often lonely. Their children have already left the house, their partner may already have died or they may have ended up single because of a divorce. Family and friends may already have passed away so that their circle of acquaintances has decreased a great deal. Research has shown that lonely aged are more susceptible to depression than elderly people who are still surrounded by family and friends. Therefore, it is important to encourage elderly people to participate in all sorts of activities and to rebuild a social network by doing so. That will reduce the risk of depression.
When is it time to seek help?
Everyone experiences symptoms of depression now and again, but when do you need to call for help? You had better seek help when:
The feelings of depression keep on worsening
Your down feeling has already been lasting over three weeks
Your life is being influenced to such an extent that you cannot function normally anymore
You feel like life is not worth living anymore.
Other people remark that you seem rather depressed
Sometimes, eldery people think that depression is simply part of the ageing process. Nothing is further from the truth. That is why everyone manifesting signs of depression needs to seek help, because a cure is certainly possible. Bach flowers and Bach flowers essences are the perfect example, since they are capable of bending negative emotions into their positive pole.
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