Depression - A Common Condition That Creeps Up in Retirement

For some people, retirement is something that they have waited on for years and have big plans. For others, retirement turns out to be not what they expected. In fact, some seniors become depressed, which can affect their health in retirement. Whether you recognize the symptoms in yourself or you are a family member who is concerned about a retired loved one, you should know about the warning signs.

Each senior shows depression in different ways and are better at hiding it than people of younger generations. Doctors, friends, family and care providers will all view a person differently and may all have different perceptions of what depression is. Therefore, you should really be in tune with the person that they normally are. You have to know that a behavior or action or lack thereof could be a sign of something serious like depression. In addition, senior retirees may not notice the depression in themselves.

What is important is that there are some signs of depression that are often misdiagnosed or mistaken for something else. Everyone assumes that appetite, sleep troubles and forgetfulness is a part of growing older. However, many older adults have no issues whatsoever. Therefore, you have to think back to whether these problems were ever present before retirement.

In addition, retirees who are experiencing depression tend to stop doing some of the things they have always loved doing. For instance, they may stop cooking or walking the neighborhood. They may put off going to church or visiting neighbors or family. They may also develop uncharacteristic behaviors. Embarrassment or shame may be a factor in someone not seeking treatment.

If left unchecked, depression can suppress the body's immune system causing illness. In addition, other mental can occur as well. Suicide is a problem among depressed seniors. Of course, depression could be as simple as a chemical imbalance that occurs as one's body ages. In all of these instances, depression can be treated. However, it takes the initiative and caring of friends and family to help the retired senior seek treatment.

Retirement is not a death sentence although some seniors feel it is one. Some feel their sense of usefulness is gone and they don't have anything to live for. Well, the goal should be to find something new to fill the time. By having goals and plans in place, retirement does not have to become a depressing time for seniors. Here are some ideas of how to fill those golden years:

1. Take up new hobby. If you have a goal of learning something new, your mind is kept engaged and depression has a much harder time to take hold.
2. Indulge in some continuing education courses. Learning new things like the internet or creating web pages could open a whole new avenue.
3. Volunteer. By giving your time to a worthy cause, you feel useful and your time is making a difference for someone less fortunate. There are plenty of ways to volunteer whether it is through a church, social organization or even through a school.
4. Find a stress-free part time job. Earning a few extra bucks during the golden years allows you to not only feel useful and earn a wage, but you also get to meet new people.