Depression Tips

The incidence of depression increases with age. This may be because older people living on their own may be socially isolated and often worry over becoming a burden to their families. In addition, they have often lost many friends and loved ones to death, and may require multiple medications for different medical conditions (many medications can affect mood). Add to this increasing physical frailty and slowing mental faculties, and the scene is set for a depressive episode.

There is no single cause of depression. Many cases appear to be linked to abnormalities in brain chemistry. For example, it has been determined that persons at high risk of suicide have lower than normal levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain that controls inhibitions and is closely related to mood. People with reduced levels of serotonin are therefore more likely to act on feelings such as a desire to take their own life. Conversely, increasing the level of serotonin in the brain improves mood in many cases.

Some cases of depression can be traced to inadequate nutrition. Deficiencies of certain vitamins, for example, can result in symptoms of mental and emotional disorders. Food allergies can also result in a depressed state. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can cause mood swings, irrational behavior, and may set the scene for episodes of depression. One type of depression, known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), appears to be related to insufficient exposure to sunlight.

When days are short and skies are gray and overcast, exposure to sunlight is reduced or nonexistent. This causes the retina of the eye to fail to send proper messages to the hypothalamus, which is responsible for transmitting signals that maintain the body in its properly regulated state. The end result may be a form of depression. SAD most often affects those living in northern climes during the cold months of the year.