If you are 65 or older and feeling depressed you are not alone. Statistically, one out of every 17 people in this age group is suffering from depression and social isolation. A large number of seniors don’t recognize the signs of depression.

Depression may be the most disabling disease in the world, according to a World Health Organization survey, taking a greater toll than any of the four major chronic illnessesangina, arthritis, asthma and diabetes.

History tells us that some of the world’s great leadersincluding Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill battled depression. Aristotle, in the fourth century B.C., went so far as to say that “all men who have attained excellence in philosophy, in poetry, in art and in politics, even Socrates and Plato, had melancholic habitus, and some suffered from melancholic disease.”

Depression is a type of mental illness that is characterized by extreme sadness. You feel helpless and hopeless, have trouble sleeping and find no pleasure in activities that used to make you happy, even sex and eating. These symptoms are common in older adults and sometimes it is difficult to determine if it is depression or a physical health problem.

Medicare covers outpatient and inpatient mental health services and prescribed medications. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan check with your provider for co-pays and network providers.

If you or someone you know is in crisis and would like to talk to a crisis counselor, call the free and confidential National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, TTY uses 1-800-799-4889. Call 911 if you’re in an immediate crisis.

There are many reasons for senior depression. One is the lack of exercise. Just 20 or 30 minutes can each day can stave off depression. You can go to the gym, garden, walk, anything that gets your heart rate up.

Loneliness can contribute to depression. If you are lonely, visit the senior center, take a class, RSVP of Kay County offers many volunteer opportunities, which will give you a social outlet while helping others.

Psychologist point to the many variants of depressionpost- stroke depression, latelife depression, extreme depressive condition, depression associated with heart disease or with the side effects of prescription medications. Alzheimer’s disease often occurs in conjunction with depression. In many cases, depression occurs without any precipitating event or conflict.

It’s clear that whatever positive effects can come as a result changing lifestyles, medications will remain an important part of treatment. These drugs work primarily by neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. All antidepressants take about four to six weeks to show a full effect.

Most therapists believe in stopping depression as early as possible. Gloomy thoughts beget gloomy thoughts. And there is a strong potential for suicide, even during treatment. As the author of the World Health Survey put it, “depression is bad for your physical health, making chronic medical conditions such as heart disease and diabetes more difficult to control.”

Depression is more than feeling sad. Winston Churchill called it the “black dog” and this dog chews away at your ability to eat, sleep, experience pleasure and function normally in every day life. While you may think at the time that you have no hope and that there is nothing that can help you, depression is 100 percent treatable. Your capacity to do extraordinary things has not been limited by your present condition. You are not alone and need not suffer alone. If you see someone who is experiencing symptoms do not hesitate to talk with them. You may be the only one who recognizes they are not themselves and we all deserve to live full and productive lives no matter what the age.

Sources: Meridian Counseling Gabriel Patel, Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

The Senior Resource Program is located at 445 Fairview, Suite 102, in Ponca City. The telephone number is 580-382-9099. A direct email is Seniorresourcespc@ outlook.com The Senior Resource Program is supported by the Clark Gerontology Fund, RSVP of Kay County, United Way of Ponca City and the Community Health Foundation of Ponca City. There is no charge for any of our services.