1 in 6 elderly people over 65 years old suffer from depression, and 1/3 of the annual suicides are over 55 years old.
I. The manifestations of depression in the elderly?
1.Depression
Insomnia at night, or repeatedly recalling unpleasant events in the past, blaming oneself for the misfortune of family members and others, feeling sorry for loved ones, and having no interest in everything in the environment. In mild cases, the person may talk incessantly about his or her experiences and “miserable situation”, or in severe cases, he or she may attempt suicide.
2.Suspiciousness
The manifestation of excessive concern for their own physical condition, such as constipation, abdominal discomfort, chest tightness, dizziness and other feelings.
3.Anxiety and agitation
It manifests as anxiety and fear, worrying all the time that you and your family will meet with misfortune, big trouble, rubbing your hands and feet, restlessness and anxiety.
4.Somatic discomfort
Many elderly patients who deny depression show various physical symptoms, such as headache, mouth pain, chest pain, back pain, abdominal pain and general pain, chest tightness, palpitations, digestive symptoms, anorexia, abdominal discomfort, bloating, constipation, autonomic nervous system symptoms, redness, hand tremors, sweating, and general weakness, etc. In addition, general weakness and sleep disorders are also common symptoms.
5.Decreased activity and slow movement
Reduced physical activity, reduced facial expressions, reduced speech, low and brief voice, slow speech speed, double vision, sullenness, and sadness.
6.Delusional symptoms
For no reason, they suspect that their children are not good to them, or someone around them is stealing their things, or they may even have delusions that they have sinned so much that they cannot continue their lives.
Second, which elderly people are prone to depression?
1. Introverts
Most of the elderly people who are introverted are withdrawn and like to be quiet, narrow-minded, stubborn, not good at talking, timid and afraid of things, unwilling to reveal their thoughts, afraid to confide in others, unknowingly aggravating their internal conflicts, and thus prone to depression.
2.Sick people
Older people who suffer from physical diseases, especially those who cannot take care of themselves in daily life and need to be taken care of by relatives, have an increased sense of inferiority; if coupled with their children’s bad attitude towards them, they will hold back their anger and dare not vent their pain, thus making them prone to depression.
3.Widowed spouse
Once elderly people lose their partners who have been with them for decades, they will be depressed and depressed, thus prone to depression.
4.Economic constraints
Many elderly people have no financial income and rely on their children’s support. They do not have economic power, they cannot live independently, and the economic burden is increased by illness, which often makes the elderly useless, disappointed and depressed.
5.Living alone
Older people who live alone are living in isolation, without a sense of security and dependence, and have nowhere to talk to.
6.Low-educated people
Older people with low education level have narrow interests, few hobbies and lack of spiritual support, which is not conducive to maintaining psychological balance.
7.Retired people
When senior cadres retire, they have difficulty adapting to the loss of power, changes in social status and interpersonal relationships for a while, resulting in a sense of loss and inferiority, leading to negative emotions and thus susceptible to depression.
In addition, family disputes, quarrels with neighbors, employment of children, accidental death of relatives, unsatisfactory sex life and other life events can cause adverse stimuli to the elderly, making the psychological defense and adaptability decline. A variety of factors mixed together, more likely to increase the possibility of depression in the elderly.
Third, how to prevent depression in the elderly?
1.Family care
Depression itself is an emotional problem, so family members should pay more attention to the emotional state of the elderly while caring for their physical health, chatting with them more often, taking a walk, understanding their psychological dynamics in time and giving them the necessary support.
2.Self-control
After decades of experience, the elderly should be aware of their own personality characteristics, timely understanding of their emotional changes, reasonable catharsis, appropriate control, management of their mood swings. Try to do “not to be happy with things, not to be sad with oneself”.
3.Change the environment
When the family environment or the small environment of life is not satisfactory and cannot be changed, the elderly should change their living environment in time, or go on a vacation or travel outside. Let yourself leave the unpleasant environment, wait until the mood is more stable, and then go back to face some problems.
4.Sports and exercise
Proper exercise is a proven method to effectively improve low mood, maintain a certain amount of activity every day, in the exercise can effectively relieve low mood. There are many studies have confirmed that regular exercise habits can not only strengthen the body, but also can effectively improve the mood of people.
5, seek professional help
When you can’t vent your emotions in time or find the right person to mediate, you should seek professional help. Psychological counseling institutions or psychiatric health institutions have your loyal confidant.