HOW TO HELP SENIORS LIVING WITH ANXIETY

Anxiety is the fear of the unknown, It is an emotional uneasiness about a particular thing you may be expecting. Most times it is the body’s natural reaction to situations we don’t know and are afraid of. Anxiety can either be severe or minor. When we are exposed to harmful experiences or insecurities a feeling of distress springs forth. Anxiety can opt from happiness, panic or stress over things.

A number of seniors have anxiety problems. Most anxiety in seniors is often undiagnosed as most seniors do not classify their excessive worry and fear over something as anxiety. Even when aware of it, they do not see a need to see a doctor because to them, it is a normal reaction to situations. Seniors are generally faced with different medical treatments and follow up due to old age in order to live a healthy life and so anxiety is often ignored. They may even think that the anxiety is just a normal emotional feeling towards a particular situation at home or fear of going to the hospital.

SOME SIGNS OF ANXIETY IN SENIORS

Seniors living with anxiety show some certain signs and symptoms. Some of them include

• Insomnia

• Confusion

• Nightmare

• Digestive issues

• Compulsive behavior

• Irrational Or scary thought

• Muscle tension or soreness

• Restlessness or uneasiness

• Difficulty breathing and sweating

• Short memory loss and inability to focus

• lightheadedness or Dizziness and nausea

• Isolation or withdrawal from people or social activities

Once one or two of these signs are noticed in an older adult or loved one, It is important to take necessary precautions by visiting a physician to seek for the right treatment- whether drug prescription, therapy or other treatments to alleviate the anxiety.

If preventative or right cautiousness is not taken on these symptoms, then it can escalate to become an anxiety disorder which is a more severe diagnosis or even depression.

CAUSES OF ANXIETY IN SENIORS

Anxiety does not have real causes aside from the different experiences we pass through, be it psychological, environmental, chemical reaction, traumatic events and many developing factors. Some of these factors include:

Excessive Fear Or Worry:

Some seniors are always thinking and worrying over everything around them. They are concerned with how things will be or where it will lead to. For instance is the fear of death, they think they are closer to the grave and are working on when the time will be.

Safety Concerns:

Due to different medical issues that arise from old age, seniors tend to be overly concerned about their health and safety. They feel nowhere is safe and are easily triggered by what is happening around them.

Difficulty Sleeping:

Some seniors find it difficult to sleep as a result of the various things occupying their mind. Thoughts such as what to eat, how to take medication, visiting the hospital, and many more keep them more awake.

Avoiding Social Interactions:

Health issues may prevent seniors from going out or meeting people. This makes them feel lonely and unwanted, as a result they develop anxiety.

Stress From Various Activities:

Even with the fact that they are old and their bones are weak, some seniors still engage in strenuous activities that accumulate stress. This stress makes them anxious especially if they are not able to do what they usually engage in before

Chronic Medical Condition:

Because of the difference in age seniors are prone to illnesses or injury which often cause anxiety.

Hereditary Condition:

Some anxieties are hereditary, gotten from a particular member of the family, likely from parents to children.

Negative Events Or Traumatic Experiences:

Accidents, kidnapping, loss of loved one and other unforgettable experiences that result in injury or emotional trauma which may cause anxiety.

Social Isolation:

When an older loved one is left alone, without constant checking on them. They may develop anxiety.

Physical Mobility:

Inability to move from one place to the other based on choice often affects senior’s psychological behavior thereby making them develop anxiety.

Financial Insecurity:

When seniors grow old, they need enough finances to stay healthy. Lots of supplement and medical treatment is needed for follow up. This makes them worry over how to get the money especially if they do not have those that will support them at old age.

Misuse Or Abuse Of Medication:

When seniors miss their time of medication or use it wrongly they tend to be worried of the necessary side effects on their body.

Hoarding:

Some seniors have a long accumulation of wealth, that they have been able to amass lots of items from their young age. They find it difficult to dispose of any of these items, especially those that have little or no value to them. They feel distress to discard any of these items and are always arranging and rearranging in order to fix the item where they can see it or feel it is safe for it.

When seniors are faced with any of this anxiety disorder there is a paramount need to go for a proper diagnosis and seek the particular treatment needed for the Anxiety. Here are the ways we can help seniors manage anxiety:

Medication
The types of anxiety that the seniors experience will determine the type of medication to be taken. The caregiver will help seniors to take their medication at the right time and in the right proportion as directed by the physician. Antidepressants and benzodiazepines are common medicines doctors prescribe to relieve anxiety.

Relaxation Techniques
We can invite our seniors out to try some good relaxation techniques that will help to stretch, adjust and manipulate the muscles and tendons in order to help the body relax the more there relieves the senior of anxiety. These techniques can include correct breathing techniques( helps breath from the diaphragm rather than from the chest), meditation( gaining control of your mind), yoga and all other techniques that can help to control anxiety.

Exercise and Physical Activity
Exercise helps keep the body active by releasing the endorphins in the body, It can help occupy the mind and keeps one busy from that unwanted thought that causes anxiety. A caregiver can compile a To-do list to keep the seniors involved in simple activities at home which can help relieve their anxiety. These activities will help prevent anything that can trigger anxiety. This exercise or activities will help an image that will overlap the one that causes fear.

Encourage Social Relationships
We can accompany the seniors to meet with other family members or going out to meet new people may help to relieve anxiety. Engagement in social activities with loved ones, family, and even peers will help to better cope with anxiety.

Healthy Diet And Proper Rest
Having a proper healthy and balanced diet is generally helpful for the proper growth of the body. Proper diet helps to have a positive recreative thinking. Make sure your loved one avoids alcohol, anything that has to do with caffeine and smoking. Let him or her have enough rest so the mind can stop wandering and the body will replenish its energy and repair cells, tissues, and muscles.

Counseling
We can encourage our loved ones to go for counselling. The physiologist will give the necessary advice and guidance. He will also help introduce a very cognitive or behavior therapy or even a combination of different therapy needed for the type of anxiety experienced. Counselling helps to reduce or remove obsessive thoughts with more positive ones.

Giving Them Listening Ears
Expressing and having someone to talk to about what one is facing also helps reduce the anxiety to a minimal level. We can try to communicate with them love, show them love. This will make them feel secure to express themselves more instead of isolating themselves.

CONCLUSION

Seniors with anxiety need help and care from their loved ones especially if the environment and the things around them are new. They need proper monitoring and support, not isolation, to show that there are people around them to guide them. Pressure, stress and fear emanating from anxiety may tend to make them feel unloved. As a result, they need their loved ones and a professional caregiver to see them through all medical process, tension, therapy included in managing anxiety. Keeping them company, engaging them in conversation to relieve their boredom can keep them out of that feeling of anxiety.