DO CERTAIN ILLNESSES CAUSE DEPRESSION DIRECTLY?
Very much so. For example, depression is a common symptom of influenza. The depression helps the healing process by slowing us down and causing us to be disinterest in our usual activities. Certain forms of cancer create deep depressions, although in the case of life-threatening illnesses, many threatened and real losses must be contended with as well. In those cases, depression is a protective mechanism. It removes us from life, slows us down, and makes us disinterested in our environment so our bodies can have the time needed to fight the illness. HOW CAN WE DEAL WITH THE DEPRESSION THAT ACCOMPANIES AGING? Depression does not have to be a part of aging, but many elderly people do get depressed. Not only does your body change, limiting your ability to do the things you used to do, but you also begin to feel a shortness of time; a sense of Page 41 things coming to an end increases your awareness of the limits of life. It hurts to lose your job when you’re young, but it’s not nearly as
