![]() Some older adults may relive a trauma 30 years or more after an event due to feeling helpless because of a new disability (for example, being confined to a wheel chair) or specific triggers that revive old memories (for example, news coverage of current wars).Ī person with PTSD may startle easily, be emotionally numb with people with whom they were once close, have difficulty feeling affection, and lose interest in things they once enjoyed. Symptoms may emerge months or years after the event. PTSD can result from traumatic incidents, such as a mugging, rape, abuse, car accidents, or natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes, in addition to resulting from experiences of war. PTSD develops after a traumatic event that involved physical harm or the threat of physical harm to the individual, a loved one, or even strangers. Symptoms include fatigue, chest pains, headaches, muscle tension, muscle aches, difficulty swallowing, trembling, twitching, irritability, sweating, nausea, lightheadedness, having to go to the bathroom frequently, feeling out of breath, and hot flashes. Older adults with GAD have difficulty relaxing, sleeping and concentrating, and startle easily. Those with GAD usually understand that they worry more than necessary. Those with GAD are overly concerned about health issues, money, family problems, or possible disaster. Those with GAD suffer constant worries, and there may be nothing or little to cause these worries. Physical symptoms can include blushing, heavy sweating, trembling, nausea, and difficulty talking. Some with social phobia can be around others, but are anxious beforehand, very uncomfortable throughout the encounter, and, afterwards, worry how they were judged. A social anxiety disorder makes it hard to make and keep friends. Some older persons suffer a social phobia because they are embarrassed about being unable to remember names or are ashamed of their appearance due to illness. An older adult might feel intense, persistent, and chronic fear of being judged by others and of doing things that will cause embarrassment. Social phobia is when an individual feels overwhelmingly anxious and self-conscious in everyday social situations. Social phobia (also called social anxiety disorder) Facing, or thinking about, these situations or things can bring on severe anxiety or a panic attack (chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or nausea). Phobias more common to older adults include fear of death, disaster to family, and dental procedures. Agoraphobia is a fear of public places, leaving one’s home, or being alone. Some common specific phobias are heights, escalators, tunnels, highway driving, closed-in spaces, flying, and spiders. Specific phobiasĪ specific phobia is an intense, irrational fear of a place, thing or event that actually poses little or no threat. There are several types of anxiety disorders. What is Anxiety?Īn anxiety disorder causes feelings of fear, worry, apprehension, or dread that are excessive or disproportional to the problems or situations that are feared. Fortunately, anxiety is treatable with prescription drugs and therapy. Untreated anxiety can lead to cognitive impairment, disability, poor physical health, and a poor quality of life. Complicated or chronic grief is often accompanied by persistent anxiety and grieving spouses may avoid reminders of the deceased. For example, the anxiety suffered by a recently widowed patient may be more than normal grieving. Both patients and physicians may miss a diagnosis of anxiety because of other medical conditions and prescription drug use, or particular situations that the patient is coping with. Some older adults may not seek treatment because they have suffered symptoms of anxiety for most of their lives and believe the feelings are normal. When they do, they may be reluctant to discuss their feelings with their physicians. Older adults often do not recognize or acknowledge their symptoms. Older adults with anxiety disorders often go untreated for a number of reasons. Among adults, anxiety is the most common mental health problem for women, and the second most common for men, after substance abuse. ![]() Phobia-when an individual is fearful of certain things, places or events-is the most typical type of anxiety. But when one feels anxious often and the anxiety is overwhelming and affects daily tasks, social life, and relationships, it may be an illness.Īnxiety is a common illness among older adults, affecting as many as 10-20 percent of the older population, though it is often undiagnosed. It is normal to feel anxious about illnesses, new social interactions, and frightening events. Feeling anxious can help us handle problems and strange situations, and even avoid danger. Feeling anxious or nervous is a common emotion for people of all ages and a normal reaction to stress.
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