But a relatively short period of melancholy isnt a medical condition.
Depression, in contrast, is a specific and serious mood disorder with a clear definition.
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What is depression?
What happens in the brain to cause depression?
What are the risk factors for depression?
But most people with depression need treatment, as appropriate for a medical condition, to feel better.
Asking How bad can it be?
or saying Things could be worse will do no good.
There are medicines, talk therapies and other approaches that can help most people.
Warning Signs of Depression in Older Adults
Here are the more common symptoms.
This list is not exhaustive.
In fact, older people are less likely than younger people to face depression.
The two main symptoms lasting at least two weeks are sadness and anhedonia, an inability to experience pleasure.
They might also be unable to concentrate or think, feel excessive guilt and have thoughts of death.
In older adults, the symptoms may look slightly different, Alexopoulos says.
The inability to experience pleasure is more frequent in older adults than younger, he says.
Imagine an opera lover who turns down free opera tickets because they just cant rally themselves to go.
Trouble sleeping is another big one that Alexopoulos sees often in older patients.
They fall asleep, typically 8, 9 or 10 oclock.
And then an hour later, theyre up climbing the walls.
They neglect their hygiene; they neglect eating.
