Depression is often talked about for the younger generations including Millennials, as it’s on the rise. But it can hit seniors just as hard – and in some cases, even harder. Add to that the isolation and loneliness that sometimes comes with being a senior, and it can become a recipe for mental illnesses.
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Depression among older adults is known as “geriatric depression,” and subsyndromal depression, which is depression that does not meet the full criteria to qualify for a diagnosis, is also common among seniors. A few episodes of sadness are not out of the ordinary, but symptoms that lower quality of life or become downright debilitating should be addressed – they’re not part of normal aging. Here’s what to look for…
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Insomnia
While many people have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, it could point to depression among seniors according to WebMD. The source says that while insomnia is usually a marker of depression among the elderly, it’s also a risk factor in developing the mental illness.
The source says that while sometimes benzodiazepine drugs are used to combat this, some geriatric experts are pushing more towards remedies such as melatonin or a particular antidepressant called Silenor. Psychotherapy may be another approach to help if the other insomnia treatments fail, it adds.