More information on Depression

Hello everyone,
As I write this note, it is cold (36 degrees Fahrenheit) and raining. Not my favorite kind of weather - I much prefer a dry, flaky snow followed by bright blue skies and a clean white cover over Autumn's debris. And I know that the snow will be here soon, and all will be bright again. I have confidence, and trust.

A few years ago, this weather wouldn't have troubled me,  though, as my drive to school at this time of year took place in darkness; the classroom itself was soon filled with colorful excitement of middle school students, and the weather beyond our windows was essentially ignored.

The year I had to retire, though, this weather was very troubling.  I was depressed, and anxious about our financial future, and resentful of the medical prescription for multiple sclerosis that I had been trying to accept for four years of self-injecting nightly, with discomfort, fear and denial of the condition that required such treatment.

Following retirement, I had plenty of time to see additional doctors, was then finally diagnosed with depression, and through trial and error the doctor and I found an effective dosage of the correct antidepressant. It is not an easy determination, but well worth the pursuit.

I had posted a guest essay back in April  titled Depression in Older Adults on this site, and invite you to read that again and see what you might be able to gain from the information shared there. I have recently received an infographic that may help some recognize the reality of their own depression, and seek more and effective treatment from doctors.  I hesitated to admit that a psychiatrist was needed in this journey, but in fact, a psychiatrist is the one who helped me find the correct medication which opened the right path back toward a happy, productive life after retirement. The psychologist that I also found continues to meet with me to help me assess and address ongoing issues through talk therapy.

This infographic was sent to me by Maggie Danhakl • Assistant Marketing Manager of Healthline • The Power of Intelligent Health
660 Third Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
www.healthline.com  | @Healthline  | @HealthlineCorp

Maggie asked that I share it here with you, and I am happy to do so.

Happy. Yes, that is what I am now.  No longer a teacher, but a quilt shop entrepreneur,  signing on to medicare in just a few months with the knowledge that I am still able to meet expectations, provided needed goods and services (fabric and quilting guidance) and enjoy a happily ever after long sought.

Here's the link to the graphic that will help you recognize the Effects of Depression on the Body.  Just click on a label that you want to read more about.

Thank you, Maggie, for helping me to keep others informed and actively seeking appropriate medical care. 

Be well, all.

Terry

Related Links:

National Institute of Mental Health:  http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression-and-chronic-pain/index.shtml

Depression Treatment Options:

http://www.psychguides.com/guides/depression-treatment-program-options/

Depression in Older Adults, a guest blog post

This guest blog post is written by Laura Chapman, who has written an article posted at http://psycheguides.com, and to which she shares a link here in the blog.Thank you, Laura!

"Depression amongst adults is said to be present in roughly 10% of the population. However, a lot of cases go unreported and therefore never get treated. Symptoms of depression in adults are changes in sleep patterns and appetite, feeling hopeless, numb and disinterested, and an irritability that wasn’t there before. Fortunately, treating depression is fairly straight forward and a combination of therapy to find the route of the problem and anti-depressants are usually used to ease the symptoms. If thought of suicide occur, the sufferer should seek professional help straight away."

Living With: Depression in Older Adults

Depression affects more than 35 million adults each year. Of these, 6.5 million are over the age of 65. In the later years of a person’s life, changes occur that can lead to depression. These include medical illnesses, death of spouses or other loved ones and retirement. Depression prevents older adults from enjoying their lives like they did when they were younger. The effects of depression, however, extend far beyond changes in mood. Patients become less energetic, experience changes in sleep patterns, changes in their appetites and decline in physical health. However, depression is not always inevitable when it comes to aging. There are steps and strategies that older adults can focus on to overcome the symptoms of depression.

Causes of Depression in Older Adults

Health Problems

As people get older, their health typically begins to deteriorate. They may experience severe or chronic pain, become disabled or have surgeries or diseases that damage their bodies. These symptoms can cause a person to become depressed and feel useless.

Loneliness

Many elderly people live alone, usually due to the death of a spouse, have decreased mobility and no longer have driving privileges. These factors can contribute to feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Increased Sense of Purposelessness

When people reach retirement age or are physically challenged, they may feel a sense of purposelessness.

Fears

Anxiety over health issues or financial problems can cause one to become depressed. Additionally, as people get older, they become more afraid of death.

Bereavement

When people lose their spouses, friends or pets to death, they may become saddened; this can lead to depression. In this case, the bereaved might consider moving in with family members or friends.

For more on how to spot and treat depression in adults, read this article."

Day 7 Health Awareness Writing Prompt: Write about What You Want Today.

See, I thought I was on track for securing what I want. I had gone to college because my guidance counselor saw potential in me. When I finished the two-year school, I headed into the work force, and then married, and began a family, which is what I'd wanted to do. And I was happy.

The economy, though, was crashing in the early seventies; gas was rationed to every other day purchasing, inflation was eating up what I could earn in my part time position in a department store that was seeing a slow down of purchasing, and I realized that the time had come to go back to college while it was still affordable and get that teaching degree that would let me take a stable position. That was the new want - I wanted to teach, and to work in a secure environment that would not be harmed by fluctuations in the stock market and in supply and demand. There would always be a demand for teachers, for there would always be students. And when I finally signed the teaching contract six years later, I was happy.

Our family continued to grow, first with a second child, and then with grandchildren. It grew and grew with cousins, and we often got together to share holidays. But then it began to shrink: our parents were aging and declining, and needing more help from us. When they had finished passing through the sadness of decline, and were laid to rest, I looked at where we were then, saw that I had managed to keep my job and my professional reputation intact, and saw that we still had each other, and I was happy.

When my own symptoms took me to the doctors' offices, and I learned that they believed I had multiple sclerosis, I decided to comply with the diagnosis and take the prescribed injections each night, rather than taking the less frequent interferons which could have interrupted my attendance at school. I stuck with that prescription for four and a half years, following it downward into a depression so deep that I needed additional doctors and prescriptions to help me out of it. When I finally exited that, I decided to go with my inner belief and stop the injections, as their side effects of depression and anxiety had already cost me my teaching position. With the guidance of family and friends, I got through the paperwork and secured a pension; it was less than it would have been had I been able to stay longer, but what happened had happened, and was irreversible. I once again took stock: I realized I had completed thirty years in the classrooms, believed I had done some good, and still had a happy marriage and so I could be happy about that.

So, what do I want today? I'd like to say I know what I want, and that I have a plan. Truth be told, I am happy with the way things evolved thus far. It would be nice to earn a little extra money to compensate for the shortfall in my pension, but in time, we will have some of the larger bills paid off: bills I took on believing I would have two more years of full salary to pay for them, but I haven't, and so we're tightening out belt until they are paid. I don't want for much, ever. My father told me years ago, when he retired, that we didn't have much, but we had enough. It is my mantra now. There isn't much left to want; I have it all. Peace, love, a home, food to eat, and a family with which to share my stories. It is enough.

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