Depression is very common among caregivers. This is because being a caregiver is a largely thankless job, and it is very difficult emotionally. Many different feelings come up while you’re caring for someone who has Alzheimer’s, from stress and anger, to guilt and grief. Unfortunately, all of those emotions lead down the same road, and that road is to depression.

To help keep depression at bay, you must first recognize the different signs of it. If you have four or more of the following symptoms, you should go to a doctor. The first trait common among those that are entering depression is irritability. For example, little things that didn’t use to bug you are starting to. Next, the caregiver may start to feel worthless; being that besides helping people, there is very little reward in caring for someone. The caregiver may also start to feel really guilty, believing that they’re not doing enough for the patient. The caregiver’s thoughts may become decidedly darker, delving into things such as suicide. Simple motor skills will become more difficult, and sleep will not come. Insomnia is present in a few of those who are depressed. A general lethargy may come over the caregiver. Activities that previously were very pleasurable for the caregiver, such as sports, will lose all their attractiveness. The caregiver may have difficulty either thinking or concentrating. Lastly, as far as exterior changes go, the caregiver’s appetite may change dramatically, causing their weight to change.

If the caregiver has depression, they should immediately go to the doctor to figure out just what is causing the depression – it may not even be related to the Alzheimer’s victim. But then again, the depression could very well be linked. You have to know what you’re dealing with before you can fight it. Once you know what’s causing it, there are a variety of ways to treat it, which your doctor will know more about.

However, there are some things that you can do before depression strikes. These things you can do to keep yourself happy, and keep depression at bay.

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