Depression can turn the once happy person you’ve always known and loved into a shell of their former self. While depression in some people can be apparent, it’s not always as obvious in others. So how do you know if your loved one is depressed, and then what do you do about it?

Common Signs of Depression

• Feelings of sadness, anxiety, irritability, guilt, hopelessness, or helplessness
• Loss of interest for activities they enjoy doing
• Loss of appetite (can experience weight loss or weight gain)
• Changes in sleeping patterns (insomnia or sleeping too much)
• Always feeling tired or lethargic
• Increased memory lapses
• Increased thoughts of death

Are They Grieving or Depressed?
For a person who just experienced the loss of someone close to them or a big life event like retirement, a sudden change can cause a person to grieve. However, grief and depression can have similar symptoms and can be hard to distinguish if you’re worried about a loved one. Seeking help during a period of grief is recommended because it can sometimes turn into depression.

What to Do?

• Do What You Love – If there is something your loved one enjoys doing that always finds a way to uplift their spirits, have them do it more often! Whether that’s enjoying a hobby, exercising, or taking a class to learn something new or to meet new people.
• Talk About It – Opening up about your feelings is a good way to help combat depression. Being a strong support group for your loved one is important so they know someone is always willing to talk and be there for them. You can also seek help from physicians as well as support groups.

Being able to identify if a loved one is depressed is the first step in helping them overcome this terrible illness. For other useful tips and information, visit our blog! If you’re interested in learning more, or visiting The Arbors Assisted Living community, schedule a tour by contacting one of our five convenient locations:

Bohemia
Hauppauge
Islandia East
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