HomeBlogPatientThe Retirement Blues: Identifying Post-Retirement Depression The Retirement Blues: Identifying Post-Retirement Depression August 22, 2016Patient Retirement is supposed to be a time of freedom and happiness. You’ve worked hard all your life, saved appropriately, and now will have the time you’ve always dreamed of to relax, travel, or spend quality time with family. So why do so many people get the blues once they do stop working? Like most, Robert Delamontagne, Ph.D., initially approached retirement with feelings of excitement. “I had been running a software company. I founded it—and I was the CEO and Chairman for 25 years. It was a very fast-paced life,” he says. “I was looking forward to retirement. I was 63 years old, financially independent, and I thought I was ready. But after a month or two, I started having a lot of weird emotions I couldn’t explain. It got worse—I didn’t know if it was depression or what. But I woke up each morning and found that nothing particularly interested me.” Delamontagne’s feelings are not uncommon. In 2013, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) published a report detailing some of the negative health outcomes involved in retirement. They found that while retiring gives many an initial boost in health and wellness, with time, it can actually drastically reduce one’s mental and physical health. The study authors found that those adverse effects also increased with the length of retirement. Most shocking, the authors found that retirement could increase the risk of clinical depression as much as 40 percent. Delamontagne, a psychologist, wanted to explore this phenomenon more—he says that most people don’t talk about this “darker side” of retirement. Even he, at his lowest, said he replied very positively to any questions about how he was enjoying retirement. The fruit of that investigation was his book, The Retiring Mind: How to Make the Psychological Transition to Retirement. “For many, including myself, you work hard, you enjoy your work, you are successful and get satisfaction from your work—it’s the only life you know for many, many years. And then it all stops,” he says. “It’s almost like going into a withdrawal. For me, I was used to going a thousand miles an hour. And after retirement, I went to zero miles a minute. It was hard to find something to motivate me.” For many, Delamontagne argues, finding more satisfaction in retirement comes to understanding why you have the blues—are you missing an important project to occupy your time? New problems to solve? The attention and prestige you get from achievement? Lots of stimulation? By practicing some self-awareness, he argues, you can find something that can take the place of your work and lead to more life satisfaction. But, that said, he also says that some individuals may need to seek professional treatment to help get them back on even ground, psychologically speaking. There may be other medical conditions that are contributing to feelings of depression and anxiety — or a psychological or psychiatric condition that was present before retirement that may have been somewhat masked by the busy-ness of daily life. If you feel that feelings of sadness, irritability, or sleep problems are interfering with activities of daily life, see a physician immediately. It may be a medical issue beyond just dealing with life’s next phase—and there’s no reason to suffer needlessly. The information on this website is provided as a general information resource only, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The information on this website is provided “as is”. Assurex Health makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the information on this website. Our articles are for informational purposes only and are reviewed by our Medical Information team, which includes PharmDs, MDs, and PhDs. Do not make any changes to your current medications or dosing without consulting your healthcare provider. The GeneSight test must be ordered by and used only in consultation with a healthcare provider who can prescribe medications. As with all genetic tests, the GeneSight test results have limitations and do not constitute medical advice. The test results are designed to be just one part of a larger, complete patient assessment, which would include proper diagnosis and consideration of your medical history, other medications you may be taking, your family history, and other factors. 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Patient MTHFR Mutations: Clinical Implications and Management Strategies MTHFR mutations—changes in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene—have gained increased attention in the medical community due to their potent... Read more
Patient Can an App Help Me Manage My Anxiety? Health and wellness smartphone apps have become so common that if you can name a health goal, desire or condition, you can probably find an app for it. N... Read more
Patient Black Trailblazers of Psychiatry and Mental Health: A Legacy of Healing and Advocacy As we celebrate Black History Month, we want to recognize a few individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the field of psychiatry and mental heal... Read more
Patient Mindful Moments: Tips for Anxiety If a well-meaning friend or family member has ever told you to “just breathe” when you’re feeling worked up or stressed out, you’d be forgiven if you felt l... Read more
Patient Hints To Help You Have A Better New Year The holidays have ended, and a new year has begun—a time when many embrace a fresh start by setting New Year’s resolutions. This year, why not consider s... Read more
Patient Movement as Medicine: Solutions for Anxiety Moving forward. It sounds like a nice idea, especially when you’re feeling stuck deep in the throes of an anxiety spiral. But it turns out that physically m... Read more
Patient Weight-Loss Drugs and Mental Health: What You Need to Know New medications for weight loss seem to be flying off pharmacy shelves these days. But could they be linked to mental health conditions? Researchers are ... Read more
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