Successful Ways of Fighting Depression After Retirement

Depression is one of the plagues of our times and no age group is devoid of risks. Depression can affect anybody from children to seniors. However, since the latter are often more likely to deal with this fearful enemy, we will focus on them in this post. Read on and see how you can fight depression after retirement.

What Are the Typical Causes of Depression in Seniors?

Each depression case is, of course, particular as everyone has their own reasons to feel depressed. However, there are some common patterns that can be found in seniors who suffer from depression.

One of the main causes is the fact that they no longer have a job. Isn’t it ironic, as the famous song says? All of our lives we complain about having to wake up each morning to go to work and feeling we are slaves to the system.

Then comes retirement and we miss the days when we could be away from home, engaged in different activities. We miss it because, no matter how difficult or frustrating work sometimes is, it gives purpose to our lives and makes us feel useful.

One of the major causes of depression in the elderly is that they can no longer find their place in the world after they retire. Other causes are disease and the loss of enjoyment of life that comes with it, a shift in family relationships as children go about living their own life while the parents remain at home in an empty nest, and the inability to learn again how to live this way.

How to Deal with Depression?

1. Be as Active as You Can

If you feel the dark clouds of depression start gathering above your clear sky, it’s time to take action, literally. You need an activity that can keep your mind and body busy. This way, you will have less time to focus on negative thoughts and you wiĺl be able, once again, to feel useful and appreciated.

You can take up a new hobby or you can invest your energy in activities you’re already familiar with or simply invest your time in looking after your household and taking long and refreshing walks.

Retirement is the perfect period to do those things you’ve always wanted and never had enough time for. There are plenty of activities you can indulge in based on your passions. Practicing some kind of sport is an ideal and healthy option. You don’t need to go to the gym for that, you can simply get one of the comfort bicycles for seniors and enjoy the ride.

2. Plan Your Activities According to a Schedule

Not having a fixed schedule is one of the most troubling things that puzzle you and create an imbalance in your life once you retire. If you have been used to working for a specific number of hours every day, for years, it’s difficult to wake up in the morning and not know what to do.

Moreover, this opens the door for depressing and negative thoughts.
To ease your passage into retirement, you should try to continue functioning based on a schedule. Pick a time of the day to handle the household chores, a time to rest, a time to enjoy your hobbies and stick to that timetable.

3. Socialize More Often

Another paradox of retiring is that most people actually socialize less with friends and relatives now that they are free all day. Socialization is essential to our mental well-being no matter how old we are. People who don’t socialize enough often feel alienated and depressed.

Don’t let this happen to you; socialize with friends, ex-colleagues, join a club or course, visit your children. Go out there every day and talk to people, it will help you keep depression at bay.

Depression is a common issue in people of all ages, but after retiring, we are often more susceptible to become one of its victims. Don’t let depression get to you once you retire, keep an active mind and body, and enjoy this peaceful period of your life!