Written By Alan Good
“
If your world is all screwed up, rearrange it,” stated the Canadian rock band, Trooper.
Last week we asked about your stress level. While experts state we all suffer stress of some kind, in most seniors it seems to be more pronounced.
Mental health is shaped by physical and social environments, but also by the cumulative impacts of earlier life experiences and specific stressors related to ageing. In other words, the sins of the past can haunt us as we grow older. Regret, missing loved ones—children and partners, friends—can add to our malaise.
“That man in the mirror can’t be me!” I said.
“I am…”
Me. Who I am—who you are—isn’t the physical body you see. It’s who you are inside. I like the Bible’s take on this when Jesus stated to his disciples that cleanliness isn’t a matter of washing hands, but about what was inside, or right thinking. And what is inside will come out.
Major life changes like retirement, chronic illness, bereavement, or financial constraints can add up. Unmanaged chronic stress can weaken immune systems and increase fall risks. Downsizing, moving to assisted living, or adjusting to structured routines also can present stress for a senior.
Exposure to adversity, significant loss in intrinsic capacity and a decline in functional ability can all result in psychological distress. This can cause irritability, headaches, digestive issues, heart palpitations, sleep disturbances, crying or social withdrawal effecting your life. Those “senior moments” or memory pauses could mean you’re overloaded mentally with stress.
When you are experiencing acute anxiety, your brain often gets stuck ruminating on negative thoughts or future worries, which triggers a stress response in your body.
By intentionally shifting your focus outward to external sensory inputs, you actively interrupt that internal spiral and signal to your brain that you are safe in the “here and now”. Moving your body (such as rolling your ankles, wiggling your toes, or stretching your wrists) helps to physically anchor you and relieve tension.
As stated last time, for an on-the-spot mindfulness-based grounding technique designed to pull you out of racing thoughts or panic attacks and bring your attention back to the present moment, try the 3-3-3 rule: Identify 3 things you can see. Identify 3 sounds you can hear. Move 3 parts of your body. This method can be done at your desk, on a walk, or during a social gathering, and repeated as many times as you need.
You can’t change what has happened—or what is happening currently—but you can change on the inside. Change your thinking. Stress can, and will, decline in people who realize who they really are; perfect, whole, strong and powerful. Change your mindset. Stop ruminating about your life and do something about it. You can!
“In the end, it comes down to your thinking
And there’s really nobody to blame
When it feels like your ship is sinking
And you’re too tired to play the game
Nobody’s going to help you
You’ve just got to stand up alone
And dig in your heels and see how it feels
To raise a little hell of your own.” (Trooper)
