Maintaining Emotional Health

Understanding emotional health and how it affects your life is one of the keys to positive agina. The folks in this section are here to help guide you through some important emotional concerns: depression, anxiety, alcohol misuse and suicide.

Bob

"I retired last year. Boy, was I ever looking forward to that! No more getting up early, no more long commutes. I was shocked when I started having trouble concentrating, even making decisions..." Read Bob's story on recognizing depression.

Alice

"Last year, I fell and broke my hip while I was mopping my kitchen floor. In the months after my fall, though, I became more and more nervous about leaving my apartment or moving around too much..." Read Alice's story on dealing with anxiety.

Hector

"I've always enjoyed my beer. After I retired, though, I began to drink earlier in the day. I began to wonder if I had a problem with alcohol." Read Hector's story on overcoming an addiction.

Anna

"My brother still lives where I grew up--on a reservation for Native Americans in Montana. Last year, his wife left him. Lately he's been talking about wanting to kill himself." Read Anna's story on talking about suicide.


First: What is Depression?