Thursday, September 29, 2022

What are the signs of depression?

People often think that depression in older adults is a normal response to the losses of aging. When they say, for example, “It’s no wonder he’s depressed, he’s 82,” or “If I had arthritis, I’d probably be depressed too,” they may mean well, but depression is not normal.

An older adult may be severely depressed if he or she:

    does not get dressed

    does not answer the phone or the door

    loses interest in activities he or she used to enjoy

    expresses feelings of worthlessness and sadness

    has unusual outbursts of crying, agitation or anger, or shows little emotion

    sleeps poorly or too much

    eats more or less than usual

complains about physical symptoms that do not have a cause

lacks energy, is often tired

seems confused

has difficulty concentrating

has trouble remembering things

has trouble making decisions or following through with plans

spends more time alone 

Article originally appeared at: https://www.camh.ca/ Author: The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)   

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