Tips on how to prevent loneliness in elders

With contemporary technological advances, it is simpler to stay in touch than ever before. Social media apps, Smart phones, and the internet have made it possible to contact anyone, anywhere, at any time. In spite of these advances, research suggests that as a society, are lonelier than ever before – and seniors experience that loneliness at a higher level than any other age group.

To some degree, loneliness is an option. You have the capability to select whether you keep to yourself or make an effort to stay in touch with family and friends. There are several factors that make it more challenging to stay connected. As you get older, your social circle starts to shrink. Elderly friends pass away, family members start families of their own, and people move away. Even if you have family and friends in the area, issues of mobility, illness, and transportation can make it difficult to get out of the house to see the people you care about.

Hadar Swersky says that as people age, sometimes changes take place that may cause us to experience stress and sadness. The transition from work to retirement, the death of a dear one, or the analysis of an illness, can all make us feel uneasy, anxious, and unhappy and contribute to depression over time. Certain symptoms of depression are:

  • feeling sad, unhappy, or empty
  • loss of interest in normal activities
  • changes in appetite
  • anxiety or restlessness
  • feeling worthless or guilty
  • irrational reactions or angry outbursts
  • difficulty sleeping, insomnia, or sleeping too much
  • difficulty concentrating or making decisions
  • unexplained pain
  • thoughts of suicide or death

Depression in elderly is complicated to identify because they sometimes have different symptoms compared to a younger demographic. Some seniors might have less obvious symptoms than sadness, thus is less willing to vocalize their feelings and doctors may not be able to distinguish that they may have depression.

Common depression symptoms in older people are more likely to be:

  • Having trouble sleeping, such as insomnia
  • Constantly feeling tired
  • Grumpiness or easily irritable

Hadar Swersky says that loneliness is also a huge reason depression is common among seniors. Social contact decreases as people age, frequently due to lack of retirement, mobility, and other reasons leading to higher rates of senior social isolation. Studies also show that loneliness is a vast risk factor for depression, heightening the sense of unhappiness and worthlessness. Thus, it is important to look out for these symptoms and ease them ahead of time for yourself or your dear one.

One of the best ways how seniors can make the most out of their lives is by looking into great volunteering opportunities. These are events where people can go out and help others with organizing special events or activities in a community. Loneliness and depression, as well as psychological well-being, do not have to be a burden to your life as you age. Just use the points you have read about here and you will find it is not too difficult for you to feel better about yourself and where you are going with your life. Dealing with loneliness always helps as you look to stay confident and comfortable with your life.

A complete overview of ADHD and how it can be treated

ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a complicated brain disorder that impacts 11% of children approximately and almost 5% of adults in the United States. ADHD is a developmental impairment of the brain’s executive functions. People with ADHD have problems with focusing, impulse control, and organization.

Clinical research, brain imaging and neuroscience tell us a few important things: ADHD is not a behavior disorder or a mental illness. ADHD is not a particular learning disability. ADHD is, rather, a developmental impairment of the brain’s self-management system. Both children and adults can be diagnosed with ADHD.

Hadar Swersky has vast knowledge about ADHD. He points out some of the common symptoms of ADHD, such as:

  • lack of focus
  • inattention
  • weak impulse control
  • executive dysfunction
  • poor time management
  • exaggerated emotions
  • hyperactivity
  • hyperfocus

If you or your child has ADHD, you might have some or all of these symptoms. The symptoms you have will depend on the ADHD type you have.

ADHD Types

To make ADHD diagnoses more reliable, the APA has grouped the condition into three categories or types. These types are predominantly hyperactivity-impulsive, predominantly inattentive, and both.

  • Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type

People with this type of ADHD mainly show hyperactive and impulsive behavior. This can include:

  1. interrupting people while they are talking
  2. fidgeting
  3. not being able to wait their turn

Even though inattention is less of a concern with ADHD type, people with mainly hyperactive-impulsive ADHD may still find it hard to focus on tasks.

  • Predominantly inattentive

As the name suggests, people with this ADHD type have extreme difficulty finishing tasks, focusing, and following instructions. Experts also think that several children with inattentive ADHD might not get a proper diagnosis as they do not tend to disturb the classroom. This is more common among girls with ADHD.

  • Combined hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive type

ADHD is the most common type. People with this combined ADHD type display both hyperactive and inattentive symptoms. These comprise an incapability to pay attention, a tendency toward irresponsibility, and above-average levels of energy and activity.

The ADHD type you or your child has will determine how it is treated. Your type can change over time, so your treatment can also change.

Causes of ADHD

Despite how common ADHD is, researchers and doctors are still unsure what causes the condition. It is believed to have neurological origins. Genetics can also play a role. A reduction in dopamine is a factor in ADHD. Dopamine is a chemical in the brain that assists move signals from one nerve to another. It plays a role in activating emotional responses and movements.

Other suggests a structural difference in the brain. Findings point out that people with ADHD have less gray matter volume. Gray matter comprises the brain areas that help with:

  • self-control
  • speech
  • muscle control
  • decision making

ADHD testing and diagnosis

A doctor will evaluate any symptoms you or your kid has had over the previous six months to make a diagnosis. Your doctor will likely gather information from family members or teachers and may use checklists and rating scales to evaluate symptoms. They will also do a physical exam to check for other health issues. If you suspect that you or your child has ADHD, consult with a doctor about getting an evaluation. For your child, you can also consult their school counselor. Schools assess children for conditions regularly that might be affecting their educational performance.

For the assessment, offer your doctor or counselor notes and observations about your child’s behavior.

If they suspect ADHD, they may refer you or your child to an ADHD specialist. Based on the diagnosis, they may also suggest an appointment with a psychiatrist or neurologist.

ADHD treatment

Hadar Swersky says that the treatment for ADHD typically includes medication, behavioral therapies, or both. Types of therapy include talk therapy or psychotherapy. With talk therapy, you or your child will talk about how ADHD affects your life and ways to aid you to manage it.

Another type of therapy is behavioral therapy. This therapy can help you or your child learn to manage and monitor behavior. Medication can also be helpful when you are living with ADHD. ADHD medications are designed to affect brain chemicals to allow you to control your actions and impulses better.

How to Use ADHD as a Success Tool for any circumstances

It may be complex to think that your adult ADHD has a silver lining after years of unpleasant ADHD symptoms and therapy. But it does: If you want to establish your firm, your energy and willingness to take measured risks might be beneficial. You, too, can use your ADHD to your advantage, according to Hadar Swersky. Characteristics that can work in your favor include:

High-intensity

The tremendous energy associated with hyperactivity is perhaps the most distinguishing feature of ADHD symptoms. That dynamism may have produced issues in more restricted contexts (such as school), but it may be beneficial in assisting a corporate leader in carrying out his vision.

Risk-taking that gets calculated

People with ADHD are sometimes stereotyped as reckless risk-takers, according to Hadar Swersky. Calculated risk is the key to success. “I enjoy the rush and the reward.” “It’s how I prefer to work.”It’s how I prefer to work.”

Imaginative problem-solving

ADHD is known for its creative problem-solving abilities. That might be because brilliant men and women with adult ADHD have had to devise a slew of novel strategies to succeed. “I learn best while I’m moving about.” We’d roll around with headphones on, listening to lectures and studying things.

Intuition

Entrepreneurs are naturally creative, and those with ADHD are often intuitive. Furthermore, your innate charisma and vivacity might entice others to join you in your mission. What is the challenge? Because ADHD may make it complex to sustain connections, be prepared to invest some effort into the day-to-day specifics of your friendships and alliances.

The thinker who sees the big picture

People with ADHD get frequently chastised for daydreaming. However, in corporate leadership, this is a benefit. Delegate the minutiae and concentrate on the broad picture for success.

Multitasking

Adult ADHD gets typically thought to help you multitask more efficiently, although this isn’t always the case. It only works when all jobs get aimed towards the same goal. That gets referred to as “working cross-functionally.” It requires thinking like a psychologist, a marketer, and an accountant — and, when necessary, putting himself in his clients’ shoes. Investing in a decent organizing system will assist you in keeping track of your various hats.

Hyperfocus

The fact that their ADHD children know every detail about one favored topic, to the exclusion of everything else, such as homework, is a typical source of irritation for parents. However, we contend that the capacity to hyperfocus on a single goal is a competitive advantage in entrepreneurship. This kind of dedication and enthusiasm may lead to success.

Intelligence

We’ve discovered that persons with ADHD are intelligent — but that their talents are often in fields other than those in which they work. He says that the best way to guide your brain consciously is to choose the causes or disciplines that engage you the most.

Despite all of these advantages, if you aren’t strategic, adult ADHD might stifle your advancement. For example, organizational details and documentation are frequently stumbling obstacles on the ADHD route to success.

How a person with ADHD can lead a normal life?

ADHD is marked by problem focusing, disorganization, hyperactivity/impulsiveness, low frustration tolerance, and other symptoms that damage everyday functioning. While living with ADHD can be difficult, treatment and lifestyle changes can assist manage difficult symptoms for overall happiness. Hadar Swersky says that people with ADHD often need focus, talk excessively, wander off task, fidget, and act impetuously. Children commonly present with hyperactivity, and as they age, they can struggle more with attention, resulting in academic issues.

The disorder is frequently misunderstood by others. People who do not understand the symptoms of ADHD can label children with ADHD as lazy, unmotivated, or problematic children. Adults with ADHD may be seen as negligent or erratic as they struggle to remember significant details or obligations and they have a difficult time staying on task.

After being diagnosed with ADHD, many people suffer from strong emotions like anger, relief, sadness, etc.

Things that can be done

  • Talk to other people about how you are feeling, and be eager to ask for help.
  • Assure yourself that all these emotions are ordinary, even if they are hurting at the time.
  • Think about working with a therapist who is well-informed about ADHD.
  • Find an ADHD support group in your area. Meeting other individuals who have been through a similar experience is very useful.

Know how to manage your symptoms

  • Work with medical professionals closely to find the best treatment options for you. Do not dither to speak up when something is not working, and be eager to ask questions about what you can expect to experience with treatment.
  • Continue monitoring and managing your symptoms even when you feel as though treatment is working well. Your symptoms may change with changes in your environment or your ADHD can change as you grow older. Carry on communicating with your treatment providers about any changes you experience or any problems you notice.
  • You may also test with a range of lifestyle changes. For instance, close monitoring of your symptoms may help you make out that you need more structure in your life so you can spend less time looking for lost items. Adding more structure and getting organized may be vital to helping you manage your symptoms perfectly.
  • You may need to change dose or alter medications or, you may find it is better to start therapy when you go through a change in employment.

Hadar Swersky as an expert in this field says that living with ADHD is about monitoring your symptoms and working toward finding what works best for you actively. With the correct support and treatment, you can make a life that enables you to reach your greatest prospective.