Anxiety Disorders in the Elderly

According to a research paper published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, anxiety is among the most common mental health problems when it comes to seniors. Even if the anxiety in question cannot be identified as a full on disorder, it can cause significant reduction in the living quality of the senior struggling with it.

We’re going to elaborate on anxiety disorders and anxiety in general that may be experienced by the elderly as well as what can be done to mitigate the symptoms.

Anxiety and the Elderly: An Overview'

 

 

We connected with numerous senior care professionals in order to better understand the kind of anxiety most seniors contend with from day to day. What we understood was that some seniors may suffer from full blown anxiety disorders, but crippling anxiety in general was something quite common.  

On the Note of Disorders

Just to be clear, some full blown anxiety disorders include:

· Panic Disorders
These involve experiencing frequent and unexplained onsets of terror which may manifest physically as pain, hyper ventilation, crying and other panic attack like symptoms.

· OCD
OCD or obsessive compulsive disorder involves hypersensitivity, uncontrollable thinking, over meticulous or methodical behavior and so on. Breaking the space of someone this order can seriously trigger them.

· PTSD
Post traumatic stress disorder can manifest after a single traumatic event or as the cumulative result of a series of them. Symptoms here range from flashbacks as well as sleep disorders and night terrors. They may also include emotional outbursts and trouble with emotional regulation in general.

· Phobias
Phobias are unexplained fears relating to anything from certain situations to animals, colors or sounds. In any case, a phobia can prevent a person from having certain experiences or partaking in certain activities.
 

· GAD
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is the name given to a state where an individual is always anxious and on edge. In many cases, this relates to trouble blocking and preventing thought trains that end in worst case scenarios.

Anxiety Besides the Disorders and Why it Happens

As we mentioned, though the anxiety disorders mentioned are experienced by seniors, this isn’t it. Many seniors suffer from anxiety that though crippling, for them cannot be classified. There are however, according to professionals who work for AvantGarde Senior Living a home catering to seniors from Studio City, CA and surrounding areas.

Some of the reasons why many seniors suffer from anxiety include:

· Chronic physical or medical complications. Particularly those relating to cardiovascular health, digestive health and general muscle fitness.

· Feeling consistently weak, out of energy, exhausted or unhealthy.

· Trouble sleeping.

· Misusing medicines that are prescribed or overdoing it with substances like alcohol.

· Side effects that are the result of something that the senior has been prescribed for medical reasons.

· Turbulent or difficult past life events.

· Childhood traumas.

· Being excessively preoccupied with one’s own health or with a fear of mortality.

What Does One Do?

As you can see, anxiety in seniors is as prevalent and significant as it may be for someone younger. At the same time, there are many things that may help seniors alleviate the anxiety they may be struggling with. Living within a community of other seniors often offers people the support and bonding they need to feel better about themselves.

This in turn helps remove focus from the more troubling aspects of aging, shifting it to the beauty of doing the same with dignity!

Personally, we feel if you do have a senior living at home who is struggling with anxiety, it may be best to look into alternative living options – the sort where your loved one may be happier and more at ease!