I am concerned about Emotional Issues on Aging
As we age, we often encounter difficult life situations such as:
- Grieving the loss of loved ones
- Diminished physical abilities resulting in difficulty with everyday tasks
- Physical illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease, strokes, heart disease and onset of dementia
- Sudden life changes, like retirement
- Financial hardship
- Medications such as high blood pressure medicine
The impact of these events may lead to behavioral health issues including sadness, withdrawal and anxiety. There's nothing
wrong with experiencing these feelings from time to time. Stress, illness, loneliness, grief and even bad weather can bring
on brief feelings of despair and anxiety. But, when the sadness or anxiety takes over your life and continues for weeks or
even months at a time, you may be experiencing depression or other serious emotional health issues and need to seek help.
Symptoms of later-life behavioral health issues:
- Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
- Crying frequently
- Feeling hopeless and unworthy
- Extreme moodiness
- Withdrawal from social life or leisure-time activities once enjoyed
- Poor appetite or eating too much
- Overtired and fatigued
- Thoughts of suicide
- Forgetfulness or confusion
What you can do to help
If you believe you or a loved one is showing signs of behavioral health issues, don't wait for the problem to go away. Get
professional help now.
When you need to talk to someone, turn to Belmont Behavioral Health at 1-800-220-HELP (4357) or (215) 456-8000.
