Causes of Senior Citizen Depression

Many people have difficulty understanding how anyone of retirement age could become depressed. They do not have to go to work every day or fight traffic. They can do whatever they want – right? Well for those who have reached the status of senior citizen, they can tell you that it is not always that easy. As people age, changes occur in the body. Some of the changes are fairly easy to deal with, such as wrinkles and gray hair, but other issues, such as menopause, heart disease, and stress are not.

Depression can occur at any point in a person’s life and can be debilitating and long lasting if not treated. As a person ages, hormonal changes can trigger depression in people who have never experienced it before. Menopause is a condition all women will experience, but some will have more severe symptoms of hormonal change, which can bring bouts of depression.

Restricted flow of blood or ‘ischemia’ is a condition in which a person’s blood vessels harden and limit blood flow and make it difficult for blood to reach vital organs, like the brain. Vascular depression can result from this condition and can increase a person’s risk of heart disease and stroke.

Stress can result in depression among senior citizens for a variety of reasons. For instance, senior living can be something one looks forward to, but the sudden lack of activity and socialization can bring about stress and depressive episodes. Life worries do not stop just because you reach senior status, and in some cases can seem worse if you have few friends with which to share your concerns.

The death of a spouse or loved one, long-term illness, or moving into a care facility can all disrupt a person’s sense of balance and lead to depression. It is important to understand that while each of these situations can cause depression, after a sensible amount of time the balance should be restored and life should go on. When depression lingers, it is vital to recognize and treat the depression, but many people overlook the symptoms and many older people are less willing to talk about their feelings.

Everyone can suffer from depression at any point in their life, and it is important to remember that depression in senior citizens are just as susceptible to it as anyone. Maintaining good health and a good network of friends and family is the best way to prevent long-term depression, and as always, talk to your doctor if you are feeling down.