Anxiety and depression are not a normal part of aging.
This is the message clinical and health psychologist Nadine Jans will be bringing to seniors at an upcoming forum at the Maple Ridge Library.
Jans, the founder and director of Uptimize Counselling, Coaching and Training, will be talking about how to optimize wellness for seniors by recognizing anxiety disorder symptoms. She will also be talking about the causes and treatment of depression, how to improve moods and how to help a senior who shows signs of depression.
Jans says depression is on the rise amongst seniors.
“There are a couple of factors that contribute to this,” said Jans.
“As we get older we have more losses and illnesses that we deal with. The older we get the more chances we have of chronic illness that contribute to mood changes. But also loneliness and this is not only among seniors but amongst people in Western society in general,” she explained saying that Western society is a very individualized society and people feel disconnected.
“It’s a society where we promote our success and feeling happy and that can really isolate people,” said Jans adding that living in an environment where the belief is that if you are not happy then something is wrong with you contributes to feelings of I’m not good enough.
However, Jans wants seniors to know that anxiety and depression are very treatable diseases.
People who should seek help will have at least two weeks where they are feeling very depressed or don’t feel like doing anything.
Symptoms include feeling very down emotionally, feeling tired and fatigued or, the opposite, having insomnia. A person may have no interest in doing anything. They may have aches and pains and start complaining more, or express more worries and fears or become withdrawn and less social. Some people may lose their appetite and others may start eating continuously.
The most important thing, though, is that these behaviours are not typical to how the person used to function.
Jans always recommends going to see a doctor or healthcare professional to get the proper diagnosis.
But she says sometimes seniors are afraid to seek treatment because they think they will end up in a situation where they will be locked up in an institution.
Jans stresses that there are very good and easy treatments available.
How to support a person with anxiety or depression will also be addressed by Jans at the forum.
Other than recommending them to go to the doctor, you should just be there for that person. This includes not correcting them or telling them what to do such as to just stop being depressed. You should acknowledge them and really listen to what they have to say.
“Social connectivity is crucial for human beings for brain health and also to support people in preventing depression,” said Jans.
Friends and family should include those who are depressed in social activity even if it feels like you have to expend a lot of energy just to be around that person.
“That is a really powerful way to support and get them through this,” said Jans.
Jans wants to erase the stigma surrounding anxiety and depression.
“In the past people might have said that person is crazy, there’s something wrong (with them). Depression, anxiety and all those things can occur in our life. And it happens to the best of us,” explained Jans.
“Asking for help is not a sign of weakness,” she added, “it’s a sign of courage.”
“And people after depression can live a wonderful life again.”
The forum called Anxiety and Depression in Older Adults presented by the Seniors Outreach and Connect Series takes place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on May 2 at the Maple Ridge Library, 22470 Dewdney Trunk Road.
It is a free event and open to people of all ages.