Why Anxiety in Older Adults Often Goes Unaddressed
Anxiety can impact anyone at any age. While we might often think of young adults or middle-aged people struggling with anxious thoughts, it affects older adults, too. Unfortunately, “ignoring” that issue or assuming that older people don’t feel as anxious is a problem.
There are several reasons as to why anxiety in older adults often goes unaddressed. But overlooking these issues can lead to even greater mental health problems for the older generation, and create a sort of vicious cycle that might cause the next generation’s anxiety to go ignored, too.
Let’s take a closer look at why anxiety isn’t addressed as often in older adults, and what you can do to help yourself or the older individuals in your life.
Symptom Recognition
Older individuals might not be so quick to assume their symptoms are due to anxiety. Things like difficulty sleeping, worry, irritability or even physical manifestations of anxiety might seem obvious to younger people. But, to those in later stages of life, they might be associated with the natural aging process or other health concerns.
So, an older individual might not seek out a proper diagnosis if they’re experiencing common anxiety symptoms. They might simply try to “get through” it because they feel it’s just the result of getting older.
This isn’t just a problem with the older individuals, themselves, but with some medical professionals. The symptoms of anxiety can manifest themselves differently in older people than in younger adults, making it difficult to receive an accurate diagnosis. They can also co-occur with other medical conditions, which can mask the symptoms of anxiety.
Mental Health Stigma
Unfortunately, there are some people in older generations who still hold on to the idea that mental health issues aren’t entirely real, or that admitting you’re struggling somehow makes you weak.
Mental health wasn’t discussed as openly and freely in previous generations. Older individuals today might have grown up in a family where those issues were to be kept quiet. So, even though they might recognize that there’s a problem, they are less likely to seek the help they need and deserve.
Social Isolation
Isolation and loneliness are huge problems for older adults. Isolation can play a big role in causing anxiety or depression, but it can also make it more difficult for an older person to get help. If they’re dealing with loneliness and aren’t often around people, their symptoms are less likely to get noticed and treated. They might not even have anyone to discuss their feelings with, so the symptoms continue to worsen.
What Can You Do?
Addressing anxiety in older adults has its challenges, but it’s not impossible. Working to overcome those challenges can implement a positive societal change for future generations as they get older.
Start by encouraging the older individuals in your life to undergo regular mental health screenings. If it’s a family member or loved one, consider going with them to better understand what they’re going through and how you can help.
Talk openly about mental health issues to eliminate the potential stigma around them, and work with your loved one’s healthcare providers to discuss any concerns you might have.
Finally, don’t hesitate to seek out mental health help. If you’re a part of an older generation and you feel like it’s time to address your symptoms, working with a therapist is a great place to start. If you have an older loved one who needs the same kind of help, encourage them to reach out. Therapy can help almost anyone determine where their anxiety stems from, and what they can do to combat symptoms and start healing. I’m here to help if you’re ready to take that step.
To find out more about my services, click here: Anxiety Therapy
