Chinese Medicine Gem

What are the causes of depression in elderly? Why the elderly is prone to suffer from depression in fall? These are the most frequently asked questions about depression. It seems that there is nothing in common among elderly, depression and fall. However, the fact is that seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), can be seen commonly in fall each year.

When it comes to the causes of depression in elderly, there are a variety of them. In general, from the perspective of Chinese medicine and western medicine, the following five are the most popular ones.

Causes of depression in elderly: theory of correspondence between man and universe

Now we think that Chinese medicine was originated from the theory of correspondence between man and universe. Ancient Chinese considered that human body was a small universe, which runs synchronously with the big universe. According to this theory, everything in the nature can be found the corresponding one in human body.

Chinese medicine thinks the fall responses to the lung in organs, sadness in emotions and aging in physiology. As we know that the fall is the transitional phase between heat and cold, in which Yang qi begins to restrain itself and it is the time for Yin qi.

Due to the reduction in sunshine and the temperature drops gradually, the grass withers, the leaves falls and the flowers fades gradually. In the face of this kind of shabby scene, the elderly, who are in the same nature of the fall, are prone to be empathized and the feeling of desolation, depression and sadness would come to mind naturally. It is especially true to the elderly who has troubles in daily life.

Causes of depression in elderly: theory of biothythm disorders

Usually the elderly has shorter and poor quality of sleep. Especially when the fall comes, human body is in the physiological period of rehabilitation. Due to lack of sleep, the elderly are prone to suffer from the symptoms such as depression, tiredness and melancholy and so on.

Causes of depression in elderly: theory of stimulation by temperature variation

Due to the declined function of nervous system, the body temperature of elderly suffers more severe impact by outside interference. Therefore, the consequence is that it affects the coordination between body and mind in the elderly and finally make it difficult to maintain a stable mental state.

Causes of depression in elderly: theory of dryness in fall

The weather is dry in fall. Chinese medicine thinks that the elderly is susceptible to the pathogenic dryness. Therefore, Due to the decreased resistance and tolerance for elderly to combat the external adverse stimulation, the elderly is hard to calm down and become restless and depressed.

Causes of depression in elderly: theory of short nights and long days

After the fall, the nights become shorter and the days become longer for the inhabitant in northern hemisphere. The longer time people have spent in the dark, the more sleep-related hormone would be generated. Therefore, the high-level of sleep-related hormone would very easily lead to depression, change of sleep and eating habits, loss of interest in activities and so on. If left untreated, it may lead to the chronic depression.

In general, the phenomenon of the elderly is prone to suffer from depression in fall is the adverse reaction to external adverse stimulation. To find out the causes of depression in elderly is very important for us to find ways to prevent and cure depression. For the elderly, it is important to keep in mind that in fall they should have a good attitude and a good mental state. What’s more, they should not ask the trouble to be empathized by the nature of the fall.