| Dear Dr. Colt: I'm an elderly woman living alone. My | | | | occasionally, asked how they are and updated how |
| children live all over and sometimes come by to visit. | | | | you're doing. |
| But they don't seem to care much about me. | | | | But more concerning to me is that you don't seem to |
| Sometimes they call, but not often enough. I miss | | | | have any other interests besides your children. If |
| them and feel I'm not important to them. I get to | | | | that's true, it is quite important that you try to find |
| crying so much, but I don't want to be bothersome. | | | | interests and friends independent of your children. If |
| How can I make them pay more attention to me? -- | | | | this is hard for you to do, it is possible you're suffering |
| Lonely in La Jolla | | | | a period of depression. The good news is that |
| Dear Lonely in La Jolla: You can't make anybody do | | | | depression is highly treatable…often without having to |
| anything willingly for long, even in caring family | | | | resort to medication such as anti-depressants. |
| relationships. Many people schedule themselves so | | | | Elderly depression is more prevalent than realized. |
| tightly they can't do all they'd like, including visiting their | | | | Please check with a mental health professional to |
| parents often. Discuss how you feel with your | | | | make sure you're not also unnecessarily suffering this |
| children, arranging mutually agreed visit times and calls | | | | debilitating problem affecting 17 million Americans |
| that both meet your needs and fit their calendars. | | | | yearly. |
| Also, I doubt they'd find it bothersome if you phoned | | | | |