Anxiety & Depression Are Not Qualities of Life

By mivillarreal on May 1st, 2017

By Dr. Jamie Huysman
PsyD, LCSW, CFT

The rate of anxiety and depression, in boomers, seniors, and particularly caregivers, has gone undetected and is often ignored for far too long. Depression seems to be running rampant in society and the fact is that caregivers of the chronically ill are prone to grief and depression as a natural part of that journey. Current statistics support this. Grieving about the person they care for and the promise of an unknown future may lead to sleeplessness, feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, sadness, fatigue, and many more.

It’s important to recognize the symptoms of depression and find support for those feelings. You’re not crazy, you’re human. We all have days when we don’t feel our best — that’s normal. But when days turn into weeks and months of doom and gloom, feeling overwhelmed and isolated, things will not get better. They will get worse. Give yourself permission to seek help. No one needs to live with anxiety or clinical depression; you do have a choice. You can do something about it. We have come far in dealing with it pharmaceutically (where necessary), psychosocially and through integrative medical practices.

See your doctor or take advantage of a free in person or online screening at HelpYourselfHelpOthers.org.

Take some O2 and reclaim your spirit—you’re worth it. When you take care of your emotional health, you become an example of conscious self-care. As a caregiver, you have people depending on you, so you need to be able to depend on yourself. If no one told you they loved you today, I do!