Golden years, gray clouds: shedding light on elderly anxiety one person at a time.
Do you have anxiety about aging? I know I do. Furthermore, I wonder what my life will be like in the future. I kind of know through seeing other people who have Parkinson’s.
So, that’s my anxiety for the future. I don’t want to be a burden on anyone, yet I’m going to need help with everyday life.
Anxiety in older adults fuels their worry of the future. What will happen to them if they can’t take care of themselves? Will family help?
Anxiety fuels a lot of negative emotions, especially for the elderly. Sometimes, you just can’t control your destiny. You may try to throw it a curve ball to go in a different direction, but that doesn’t always work.
Causes of Anxiety in Older Adults
Anxiety is common in older adults and can have many causes, including:
- Stressful events: Overall, the death of a loved one or other stressful life events can trigger anxiety.
- Medical conditions: Chronic health conditions like diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease can cause anxiety. Chronic pain can also cause anxiety and reduce mobility.
- Medications: Some medications, like steroids, stimulants, and inhalers, can cause anxiety as a side effect.
- Physical limitations: Physical impairment can make a person’s world smaller and can lead to anxiety.
- Loss of independence: Even more, older adults may experience a loss of independence, which can lead to anxiety.
- Family history: A family history of anxiety disorders can increase the risk of anxiety in older adults.
- Other medical or psychiatric problems: Being that, anxiety can be a symptom of dementia or depression.
I think a loss of independence is a huge flag for anxiety in the elderly. You have to rely on everyone else to do simple tasks.
Therefore, you try to keep as much freedom as possible.but as you get older, it dwindles away. You have trouble doing simple tasks like bathing yourself. Nothing will be like it used to be.
Symptoms of Anxiety in the Elderly
Golden years, gray clouds: shedding light on elderly anxiety is to make the public aware.
Anxiety in the elderly can manifest in a variety of ways, including physical, behavioral, and cognitive symptoms:
Physical Symptoms
Generally, a racing heart, rapid breathing, trembling, nausea, sweating, headaches, muscle tension, stomach aches, and hot flashes.
Behavioral Symptoms
Avoiding social situations or routine activities, becoming agitated or restless, pacing, fidgeting, hoarding, or self-harm.
Cognitive Symptoms
Also, trouble focusing or remembering things, intrusive thoughts, or obsessive thoughts can signify anxiety in older adults.
Other Symptoms
Feeling tired, insecure, or irritable, or having panic attacks can be symptoms of anxiety for older adults.
Anxiety in older adults can be triggered by a number of things due to:
- Getting sick
- Falling or getting hurt
- Losing a loved one
- Financial insecurity
- Forgetting memories
- Loss of independence
Anxiety and depression often occur together in older adults. Falls are a real possibility when you become unstable on your feet.
I was going to talk about my dad, but I don’t want to embarrass him so, I’ll just say that he is slowing down. Although, he still does things around the house to keep his independence. Is that right dad?
Panic Attacks in Elderly
If I get panic attacks now and can’t handle them, I’m fearful of them when I’m elderly. Especially if I’m not thinking clearly.
How scary would that be to not know what is happening when you can’t breath and think you’re dying. I think that now, but I know the why.
As you get older, in some older adults, your memory gets worse. So, not remembering that you’ve experienced this before is scary.
Kind of like a first time panic attack where you don’t know what is happening until someone explains it to you.
Symptoms of Panic Attacks in the Elderly
Golden years, gray clouds: shedding light on elderly anxiety one symptom at a time.
Panic attacks in the elderly can have similar symptoms to those in younger people, but there are some differences:
Physical Symptoms
A panic attack can cause physical symptoms like a racing heart, sweating, trembling, difficulty breathing, chest pain, dizziness, and numbness or tingling in the hands.
Cognitive Changes
Aging can impact how people interpret and express their fear during a panic attack. Older people may be more likely to feel helpless or fear dying.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders in older people can be more physical than in younger people. They can also include phobias, like fear of falling, getting sick, or dying.
Age-Related Changes
Also, physiological changes from aging, like decreased mobility, cognitive decline, and sensory impairments, can make seniors more susceptible to panic attacks.
Misdiagnosis
Older people may downplay or blame symptoms on a physical condition, which can make it harder to diagnose and treat.
A panic attack usually starts suddenly and peaks within 10 to 20 minutes, but some symptoms can last for over an hour.
People with panic disorder may be afraid of being alone or far from medical help.
What is the Most Common Anxiety Disorder in the Elderly?
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is the most common anxiety disorder in the elderly.
GAD is more common in older women, particularly after divorce, separation, or the loss of a spouse or partner.
Other risk factors include traumatic events, thyroid conditions, heart conditions, diabetes, poor health, sleep disturbance, and side effects from medications.
I’d say loss of a spouse or partner is the worst part. Especially, if you’ve been with them for many years. Having them there one minute and then not the next, has to be difficult.
Your whole world is turned upside down. It’s devastating to the whole family and the elder’s friends.
Is Anxiety a Symptom of Dementia?
Golden years, gray clouds: shedding light on elderly anxiety even through dementia. Yes, anxiety is a common symptom of dementia.
Risk Factor
Anxiety may also be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Addressing anxiety could potentially reduce or delay the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease.
Causes
Anxiety can be caused by the emotional impact of a dementia diagnosis, the effects on relationships, finances, and social life, or worries about the future.
Symptoms
People with anxiety may become restless, pace, fidget, or cling to someone. They may also have obsessive thoughts or be anxious in social situations.
Prevalence
Anxiety is more common in people with dementia who still have good awareness of their condition.
It’s also more common in people with vascular dementia or frontotemporal dementia (FTD) than in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Early Indicator
Anxiety may be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease. If anxiety is an early indicator, it could help identify people with the disease early on.
This could lead to earlier treatment and potentially slowing or preventing the disease.
How to Deal With an Elderly Parent With Anxiety?
All in all, you have to have a lot of patience. If they’re in certain stages of aging, they might not know what they’re doing or why their doing it.
When I was a caregivier, I was helping an elder man inside of a nursing home because they were understaffed. That’s one vital thing I didn’t use was patience.
One day, he really had to go to the bathroom and their was no one to help me put him on the toilet. So, I told him to wait. He couldn’t wait (he did have an adult diaper on).
He kept insisting, and I kept telling him he was going to have to wait. Hence, he was in a wheelchair and tried to enter the bathroom and I closed the door.
Needless to say he went in his adult diaper. What I should have done was explain to him that I wanted to help him, but I couldn’t do it alone.
I will admit I wasn’t a very good caregivier because of my insecurities with communication with people (because of my shyness).
What is the Best Treatment for Elderly Anxiety?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Golden years, gray clouds: shedding light on elderly anxiety through the best treatment for the elderly.
CBT is a type of psychotherapy that helps identify and change harmful thought patterns that cause anxiety.
If the elder is able to understand the questions, then yes, CBT would be good for them.
Exposure Therapy
A type of therapy that involves confronting fears head-on to become more comfortable with them. I like exposure therapy, it is very beneficial.
Therefore, it helped me conquer some of my anxieties. I had a fear of driving which it helped me get over. You have to be willing to challenge your fears head-on.
Social Support
Social support can be helpful for treating anxiety in the elderly. Indeed, social support is extremely valuable.
It helps the elder know that they have family and friends willing to help them with the anxiety.
Exercise
Obviously, exercise can help relieve anxiety in the elderly. There are many online resources and exercise videos designed for seniors.
If your able to, going for walks is the easiest form of exercise. Being out in nature is a good distraction from the anxiety.
What is the Safest Anxiety Medication for Seniors?
Golden years, gray clouds: shedding light on elderly anxiety through the safest medications for the elderly.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are generally considered the safest and most well-tolerated anxiety medications for older adults:
- SSRIs: Examples include citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), and sertraline (Zoloft).
- SNRIs: Examples include venlafaxine (Effexor) and duloxetine (Cymbalta).
Also,other medications and supplements that may help with anxiety include:
- Hydroxyzine (Vistaril): A fast-acting drug that can help temporarily treat anxiety.
- Magnesium supplements: A natural muscle relaxer that can help reduce anxiety.
While many medications are well-tolerated, there is no truly “safe” option that can be considered safe for all people.
Each person reacts differently to medications and has different views on what is considered a safe medicine.
In addition, benzodiazepines, which are sedatives, are not recommended as a first treatment for older adults with anxiety disorders.
They may increase the risk of falling and having cognitive impairment. Don’t use medications such as:
- Beta blockers
- Antipsychotics
- Mood stabilizers
- Tricyclic/tetracyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
If these treatments don’t work, you can refer the patient to a geriatric psychiatrist, who is a medical doctor with special training in treating mental illnesses in older adults.
How Can Seniors Cope With Anxiety?
Thing to do for seniors to cope and prevent anxiety include:
- Acknowledge worries and address any fears that can be handled (for example, if an individual is worried about finances, a visit to a financial planner may be helpful)
- Talk with family, a friend or spiritual leader
- Adopt stress management techniques, meditation, prayer, and deep breathing from the lower abdomen
- Nonetheless, avoid things that can aggravate the symptoms of anxiety disorders:
- Caffeine (coffee, tea, soda, chocolate)
- Nicotine (smoking)
- Over-eating
- Over-the-counter cold medications
- Certain illegal drugs
- Certain herbal supplements
- Alcohol (While alcohol might initially help a person relax, it eventually interferes with sleep and overall wellness, and can even contribute to anxiety, depression, and dementia.)
- Limit news of current events. It is important to stay current, but too much negative news can
Sum It All Up
Golden years, gray clouds: shedding light on elderly anxiety one moment at a time. Common fears about aging can lead to anxiety.
Many older adults are afraid of falling, being unable to afford living expenses and medication, being victimized, being dependent on others, being left alone, and death.
A stressful event, such as the death of a loved one, can cause a mild, brief anxiety, but anxiety that lasts at least six months can get worse if not treated.
Too many older adults neglect to seek help for their anxiety due to shame and a lack of understanding about mental illness.
Severe anxiety is not a normal part of aging—and you don’t have to accept living with it. That’s why it’s important to know that an anxiety disorder is not something you can control or will away.
It’s considered a chronic health condition that requires medical treatment, just like diabetes or high blood pressure. Peace and love. Until next time…
Articles About Anxiety In The Elderly
-Anxiety and Older Adults: A Guide to Getting the Relief You Need
https://www.ncoa.org/article/anxiety-and-older-adults-a-guide-to-getting-the-relief-you-need
-Anxiety in the Golden Years: What You Should Know
https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/anxiety-in-the-golden-years.html
-Anxiety and dementia
Have a Good One,
Cindee Murphy
“One Voice Speaking Up For The Forgotten Elderly”
“If you are too careful, you are so occupied in being careful that you are sure to stumble over something.” — Gertrude Stein
“You can’t turn back the clock. But you can wind it up again.” — Bonnie Prudden
“I promise you nothing is as chaotic as it seems. Nothing is worth diminishing your health. Nothing is worth poisoning yourself into stress, anxiety, and fear.” — Steve Maraboli
“There’s only one thing in life, and that’s the continual renewal of inspiration.” – Diana Vreeland
“For fast-acting relief, try slowing down.” — Lily Tomlin
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