Stress Management-Seniors

One thing which is not given any importance is the STRESS MANAGEMENT of the seniors. Most people think as seniors are retired, therefore they must be free from stress. They would have most probably completed all their duties that usually put people under stress, like educating children, settling them in their life, and saving up for retirement life. This is the general perception that most people carry with them. Seniors themselves may not realize that they are not paying attention to their mental health, nor would the younger ones in the house, realize this. Most often, we talk a lot about maintaining physical health in old age and totally ignore the psychological aspect of aging.

The Stress Factors

The seniors are usually plagued by issues concerning decreased self-image that happens due to aging, changed body appearance, illness, pain, fear, apathy, anxiety, feeling of helplessness, etc. This could be more so, if the people are living alone, or are living together in a family and yet feel they are not getting the required attention. It could also be that the family uses them for babysitting and other chores etc., which may also be adding to the stress. This happens, if they are not fully fit or happy with these chores, but find that they are in no position to decline, making things stressful.

Managing stress is an important aspect for every age group, but especially important for seniors. It is not uncommon for seniors to have some chronic conditions, and related co-morbidities, which makes their situation comparatively more difficult and complex. If stress is not managed and allowed to become yet another chronic issue, it would aggravate all the other conditions of the body, putting them at risk of harm by poor health. We know all the traditional and common ways of how stress can be managed by meditation, pranayama, etc., but there are other ways in which you can fight stress as well, here are a few of them:

Use The Power Of Your Senses

Different people have different sensory experiences which work the best for them when they need to relieve stress. For example, listening to a particular kind of music may be uplifting for some people, while others who find themselves calming down through sight, might find the view of colourful plants and flowers as soothing. There are some who might the smell of an aromatic candle or essential oils very calming and soothing, while for others chewing chocolate may give them that desired effect. The point here is that our senses are a very powerful tool that when stimulated sufficiently, can work amazingly well to help relieve stress.

Help Yourself, Help Others

When you feel bogged down and find it difficult to cope, it is okay to ask for help. Just acknowledging that and letting a family member, or even a known friend will help you feel better. Similarly, helping others is actually a very good way to make your mind feel more at ease and at peace as well. The more you give, the more resilient and happy you will feel. Do some community work, pick up some volunteering activity, or just simply lend an ear, or some advice to the person who seeks it. You will find that you are feeling much calmer than you were before.

Reading

Reading is a very good distraction for the mind and it can take you away from the real world around you. Good books can entertain you, teach you as well as keep you engaged and in a happy state of mind. It keeps your brain occupied in a good way and thus helps in stress management. Of course, it goes without saying that you also learn many new things and it really opens up your mind and at times, even changes your thinking.

Hobbies

They are another good way to keep your mind occupied and you can use them as a distraction. It gives you a sense of satisfaction at having created something and puts you in a generally good state of mind. Painting, arts and crafts, cooking, blogging, sewing, gardening, etc, are hobbies that can be easily made a part of your daily life. It also gives you excuses as well and that also helps in reducing stress.

I being a senior citizen developed a hobby of writing after retirement, in the last 5 years I have posted more than 1100 blogs, and also published one book titled “ Journey of Common  Man Born in Independent India”.

So if you are a senior citizen then these tips will help you in your stress management, and if you are young then these tips will definitely help you with the stress of seniors present in your house.

Waiting for your views on this blog.

Anil Malik

Mumbai, India

4th August 2022