PERSONAL HEALTH
Aging can be hard, so watch out for your mental health thinking healthy Shelly Howell is the author of “Don’t be a Wuss: Inspiration for a great life after 60.”
Let me start off by establishing that aging is not easy. There are so many challenges as we get older. Big challenges. Our risk of disease goes up as we age. Our bodies and minds are changing in ways that can be confusing and terrifying. And it can be daunting be on a fixed
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income after years of financial options. If you think about it, it’s scary just to get out of bed. Even with all these challenges, studies have shown that older adults are less likely to experience depression than younger adults. How can that be? Older adults have a lifetime of experiences that have made us survivors. We’ve seen fads come and go, we’ve made new friends and lost some, and we have learned coping mechanisms that a person in their 20s
JULY 2022 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com
Franklin Abbott
just can’t understand. In short, we’ve got some skills. But seniors do develop mental health issues and we need to look at what they are going through. Because as a group we are less likely to seek out help if we’re struggling. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being. Some of the most prevalent mental health issues include mood disorders like depression, anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. And most mental health conditions are treatable. I recently spoke to Franklin Abbott, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who treats patients in the Decatur area. “Most of the seniors who reach out to me are retired or working part-time. Many are dealing with anxiety and depression as a result of physical challenges, concerns about the future and the grief of loss.” Knowing the warning signs is the first step. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, these are the most common signals that a person should seek help: ■ Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood ■ Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities ■ Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism ■ Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness ■ Decreased energy, fatigue, being “slowed down” ■ Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions ■ Difficulty sleeping, earlymorning awakening, or oversleeping ■ Appetite and/or unintended weight changes ■ Thoughts of death or suicide, suicide attempts ■ Restlessness, irritability ■ Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and/or that do not ease even with treatment
