Anxiety in Older Adults: What to Know and Watch For

Written By: The Camelot
Anxiety in Older Adults: What to Know and Watch For

According to the American Institute of Stress, 43% of Americans feel more anxious than in the previous year. Despite increasing anxiety levels, only 24% of adults have consulted a mental health care professional in the past year. Younger adults are twice as likely as older adults to seek support.

Leaving anxiety in older adults unresolved can compromise their mental and physical health. Unsure if you need help coping with stress? Read on to learn more about aging and mental health for seniors in Hemet, CA.

Aging and Mental Health

Anxiety is a natural response to stressors, such as:

  • Getting lost in an unfamiliar place
  • Speaking in public
  • Meeting new people
  • Encountering new situations

These feelings can become overwhelming. When they make life difficult, they could indicate that you have an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety is a common illness among older adults. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is considered the most common anxiety disorder in older adults.

GAD may cause constant worry. You may fear the worst, even if the fear is unfounded. GAD can leave you feeling on edge or in a constant state of higher alert.

According to the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, anxiety affects as many as 10 to 20% of the older population. Due to the stigma around mental health, it's often left undiagnosed.

An anxiety disorder can cause intense feelings of:

  • Dread
  • Apprehension
  • Worry
  • Fear

These feelings are often disproportionate to the situation. For seniors, depression can accompany anxiety. Both can reduce your overall health, ability to function, and quality of life.

Anxiety is also associated with memory. It could trigger amnesia or flashbacks of a traumatic event if left unresolved.

Here are a few other types of anxiety disorders that affect senior emotional health.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety can cause feelings of extreme self-consciousness or nervousness in everyday situations involving other people. You may fear judgment from others, even strangers.

This anxiety disorder may cause you to avoid social situations. You may have a difficult time making or maintaining friendships.

Phobia

Phobias are intense, debilitating fears of situations or objects that don't pose a major threat. A phobia could cause you to avoid these objects or situations. Common phobias include:

  • Agoraphobia (the outside world)
  • Insects
  • Heights
  • Thunderstorms
  • Driving
  • Dental procedures

Obessive-Compulsive Disorder

OCD causes recurring, unwanted thoughts or behaviors. For example, you may feel the need to perform certain activities repeatedly. This behavior may help you feel more in control of a situation.

Anxiety Symptoms

Anxiety symptoms can vary between people. However, common behavioral and mental symptoms include:

  • Insomnia
  • Obsessive thoughts
  • Uncontrollable feelings of fear or panic
  • Nightmares
  • Refusal to engage in routine activities
  • Ritualistic behaviors (like repeated handwashing)
  • Trouble with memory or focus
  • Restlessnesss
  • Reactions that are disproportionate to the trigger

Anxiety can sometimes cause physical symptoms, including:

  • Cold or sweaty hands
  • Trembling
  • Racing heart or heart palpitations
  • Nausea
  • Frequent urination
  • Headaches
  • Tense muscles
  • Excessive sweating
  • Hot flashes
  • Shortness of breath
  • Dry mouth

If you experience symptoms that affect your ability to function, consult a doctor. Anxiety is considered problematic when it begins affecting your quality of life.

Common Causes

Anxiety disorders don't always have a specific cause. However, some situational or environmental triggers may contribute to your anxiety. For seniors, these can include:

  • Side effects of certain medications
  • Financial insecurity
  • Loss of independence
  • Limited physical mobility
  • Stressful life events (like the death of a loved one)
  • Misuse/abuse of alcohol or prescription medications
  • Insomnia
  • Chronic health conditions
  • Childhood trauma

A chemical imbalance, caused by extreme stress, could increase your risk. Anxiety may also run in your family.

Coping With Stress

Some seniors neglect seeking help due to a lack of understanding or shame about mental illness. Anxiety is considered a chronic health condition that requires medical treatment. Here are a few different techniques for coping with stress.

Talk Therapy

Talk therapy (also called counseling) involves one-on-one sessions with a counselor or therapist. They may recommend exposure therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy.

Exposure therapy involves facing your fears head-on. It could help you become more comfortable with the objects or situations that trigger your anxiety.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is designed to help individuals identify and change their unwanted behaviors. This approach may help treat anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions.

According to several meta-analytic reviews, CBT effectively treats anxiety disorders. However, further research is warranted.

Prescription Medications

Taking prescription medication may help ease your feelings of nervousness. Common medications for anxiety include:

  • Antidepressants
  • Anti-anxiety medications
  • Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
  • Serotonin reuptake inhibitors
  • Tricyclic antidepressants
  • Beta blockers

Support Groups

Explore your Hemet senior living community for support groups. Sharing your feelings and experiences with others can help you navigate your anxiety. You may discover helpful techniques for coping with stress from other seniors.

Stress Management Techniques

Your senior living community's wellness program may offer stress management courses, including:

  • Meditation
  • Yoga
  • Deep breathing
  • Mindfulnesses

These stress management techniques may help ease the physical symptoms of anxiety.

Lifestyle Changes

Some lifestyle changes may help you relax, which could ease your anxiety symptoms. Consider:

  • Avoiding caffeine, nicotine, and other stimulants
  • Getting seven to nine hours of sleep each night
  • Drinking chamomile tea
  • Journaling
  • Exercising to relieve stress
  • Improving your diet

Hemet Senior Support

Moving into a Hemet senior living community may help ease your stress and anxiety. Their exclusive lifestyle programs can help you live without unwanted stress.

For example, you can rely on their dining program for healthy, nutritious meals. Explore their fitness program to exercise regularly.

Easing Anxiety in Older Adults

Don't neglect your senior emotional health. Instead, discover how to start easing anxiety in older adults with help from your local senior living community. Their resources can ease your stress and anxiety, allowing you to enjoy your retirement in comfort.

Look no further for Hemet senior support than The Camelot. We provide Independent Living with Supportive Services to offer you a relaxing, maintenance-free lifestyle.

Discover our exclusive senior living programs, including chef-prepared meals, spacious apartments, enriching activities, and services tailored to your unique needs. Contact us now to schedule your tour!

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