Grief vs Depression in Seniors: Signs and Support
Grief vs depression is one of the most common topics in mental health for all ages. However, few of us stop to think about how this impacts our seniors, or how it will impact us during our golden years. Depression, in particular, is one of the more common conditions, with the World Health Organization stating that about 14% of all seniors over the age of 60 experience some sort of mental disorder.
Cypress, Texas, is an excellent community for those of us looking to focus on our mental health. Whether you're here for the adventure attractions, the gorgeous nature, or the tightly-knit community, you're certain to feel your mental health improve.
If you're curious about senior emotional wellness, we're here to help. Read on for a brief overview of mental health aging support, grief vs depression, and how you can manage these symptoms.
What Is Grief?
Grief is an emotional response to the loss of someone you had a close tie to. Put simply, the Cleveland Clinic defines grief as the experience of coping with loss.
Many of us view grief as the experience of losing a loved one, but it isn't solely from losing a loved one. It's often from losing someone important to your life.
According to the American Psychological Association, grief is the anguish that a person experiences after suffering a significant loss. While this can be the death of a beloved person, it can also be someone whom you idolized. Some examples include:
- Childhood figures
- Beloved celebrities
- Caretakers or public figures
Symptoms of Grief
Grief shares symptoms with depression, making it a common topic for grief vs depression. As such, it's often difficult to tell the difference between grief and depression when dealing with senior emotional wellness.
It's important to note that grief is one of the most personal things we can experience. These symptoms are common, but are not required or always expected. Please speak to a medical professional if you're concerned you're experiencing grief.
Grief symptoms are often split between physical and mental ailments as well. Here are some of the most common symptoms of grief.
Feelings of Guilt and Anger
A sensation of guilt and anger is exceptionally common. Many people feel abandoned by their loved ones, which can lead to feelings of fury and anger. These emotional whirlwinds are exceptionally common.
Along with these feelings of anger is the sensation of guilt, often at the anger itself. Some people feel as if they didn't spend enough time or effort with the loved one before they passed.
These feelings will rarely pass on their own. Instead, it's highly recommended that you speak to professionals when coping with loss.
Experiencing Sorrow and Sadness
Sorrow and sadness often accompany those feelings of guilt and anger. These relate to the commonly cited five stages of grief, but such things can rarely be narrowed down to a single stage.
It's common to slip between various different emotional states, especially early on in your senior emotional wellness journey. Making this worse is the cruel reality that seniors often deal with grief repeatedly due to their family members and loved ones also being advanced in age.
When this happens, it can often feel as if someone is "resetting" their grieving process. Don't feel ashamed if you find your grieving process taking longer. The process is too personal to compare it to others.
Fatigue and Soreness
On physical symptoms, few are as common as fatigue and soreness. These are particularly difficult for seniors, as many of us already are experiencing fatigue and soreness, especially if we're suffering from a medical condition.
One thing muddying the waters for physical symptoms is that depression also causes fatigue and bodily aches. For that reason, it's often confused with depression. Since grief is also often a trigger of a depressive disorder, these symptoms are expected to appear.
That said, there are many, many reasons why a senior may experience fatigue. Consider looking into a healthier diet to see if it improves your physical well-being. As always, we recommend speaking to a medical professional.
How to Support the Mental Health Aging Process
Grief is an exceptionally difficult condition to navigate. How can we help our loved ones through this journey in a safe and helpful way? Here are some of the best ways to help someone cope with grief.
Seeking Caregiver Support
Many seniors have beloved caregivers who are able to support them. These may be professionals with a personal connection or loved ones who also serve as caregivers.
Caregivers have a heightened responsibility to ensure the senior is well taken care of. Many sufferers of grief struggle to provide for themselves as they navigate their emotional state.
Some support may include:
- Handling day-to-day tasks
- Assisting with medication management
- Helping through socialization
The caregiver support Cypress provides is full of professional, dedicated individuals ready to help however we can. Spring Cypress memory care is also top of the line and ready to assist in any way necessary.
Encourage Socialization
Feelings of isolation and loneliness are common during the bereavement process. One of the best ways to counter this is by enhancing one's social network.
That isn't to say that one should ever attempt to "replace" their lost loved one. Instead, encourage speaking with others who have experienced something similar. Taking time to have simple conversations is often one of the most helpful things for senior emotional wellness.
Grief vs Depression and Senior Emotional Wellness
Navigating grief vs depression is one of the greatest challenges of the mental health aging process. Strong caregiver support, bereavement counseling, and keeping our minds and bodies healthy will help to make the grieving process a bit lighter. Always remember that grief is a personal process and not one that will be identical from person to person.
At Spring Cypress Senior Living, we focus on providing a vibrant and welcoming senior living campus. Our award-winning amenities and programs are coupled with personalized and dedicated personal care in the heart of Cypress. Explore our community today to see how we can help you in your golden years.