Psychological Problems in Old Age

For young people, time seems to have no end. But, as time passes we suddenly realize that the number of remaining years is limited. The realization that we are growing old can be traumatic. Our ideas about and attitudes toward aging are very important in how well we cope with and enjoy the passing years. Some psychological characteristics of aging get passed down from generation to generation through our genes. Others can result from real or perceived changes in our bodies as we age (eg, mental or physical limitations). Social and cultural differences also affect how we deal with aging. Men and women think about aging differently, because of biological, social, and psychological differences between the sexes. For example, women tend to live longer than men, so they generally experience more losses of family members and friends. All these factors influence our overall well-being as we age. Older adults often must face a great number of stresses that can be caused by a broad range of events and situations. Stresses can be physical or social. They can be an ongoing part of day-to-day life, or caused by sudden traumatic events. Common stresses for older people include the following:

• diseases or health conditions, possibly chronic (eg, arthritis, diabetic, blood sugar,etc)
• perceived loss of social status after retirement
• death of a spouse

Stress often affects our physical health and can have an even stronger effect on our mental well-being. Too much stress can be associated with a number of psychological and physical conditions, such as anxiety, headaches, and ulcers.

                                                                                                       Anita Chaudhary

                                                                                                  (Clinical Psychologist)

                                                                                               Asha USA Mini Medicine Citi