Lifestyle Choices

If you have a positive attitude to ageing, you are far more likely to be fulfilled and content in your later years. The following points may be helpful.

• Do not take any notice of any information you may have heard (or are just about to read) about losing brain cells as you get older. Although it is true that brain cells are gradually lost throughout your adult life, the capacity of the brain is vast. There is a well-known case of a man with hydrocephalus (water in the brain) who gained a university degree with nine-tenths of his brain volume missing. You will lose only a small percentage of your ten billion cells, and your mental abilities may be sharp until you die — it depends very much on how much you practice. Using your brain maintains your mental agility, whereas lack of practice may steadily lessen it. However, whether you practice or not, you may well find that your short-term memory gets worse. Don’t worry about this: use a note pad and always keep it in the same place.
• It is normal to require less sleep as you get older.

Do everything you can to avoid getting lonely. You may want some time by yourself and you may not want to be a burden, but do not allow the time alone to become oppressive or depressive. Join clubs or organizations connected with an activity you enjoy — for instance, if you enjoy playing bridge, meet others through this activity. If you want to live with somebody, don’t pressurize them by telling them how ill you are or by making them feel guilty. Instead, just ask them directly, and give them a genuine opportunity to say “no”. If they say “no”, consider asking other old people you know to share with you, either in the same house or flat, or in a group of flats that shares a caretaker. Often the greatest difficulty is that once you are alone and depressed it is hard to initiate a move. If you are lacking the energy to change your situation and you do not have friends who can help, please see a social worker for advice.

If you do become physically more dependent on others, try to accept this with humour and grace.

If you feel bored, make yourself do something — either a hobby, something in your home, or going out to see somebody or something that interests you.

If you feel useless, do something useful. If you don’t feel up to anything complicated you could help care for somebody’s plant or pets, get involved in meals on wheels, or do some other small but useful job in your neighbourhood.

• Keep your body as well as your mind active. You might do some light jogging, or perhaps play an easy game of tennis or golf. You might try stretching exercises or yoga to keep yourself supple. If you can move only a little, exercise the little that you can move.
• Try to keep your sense of humour. Organize times of recreation and fun.
• Make sure you dress and groom yourself in a way that feels good to you. Looking good, even if nobody else sees you, can make you feel good.

If, nevertheless, you are depressed, consider:

1 Is your diet adequate? If not, make sure you are not anaemic (see your doctor who will give you a blood test), change your diet and discuss with your doctor the possibility of taking vitamin supplements.

2 Are you on any drugs that might have a depressant effect? You are likely to be far more sensitive to drugs as you get older. If this is a possibility, see your doctor.

3 Talking to somebody about how you feel. It may be a relief to talk to someone (preferably someone who is not afraid of old age) about what it is really like, for you, to get older. You may find you can do this with a friend or you may find it easier with a professional whom you do not know. Your doctor may be able to refer you to somebody, or else you could ask to see a social worker.

4 If you are too depressed to have enough initiative to do any of the above, go to see your doctor. He may suggest you take anti-depressants or suggest you see a psychiatrist. If you see a psychiatrist, it does not mean you are going crazy or demented, but it may help you to deal with your depression or sort out some of the problems connected with getting older.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)
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• Naturopathy
• Affirmations
• Life Changes and Motivation
• Physical Factors in old Age
• Making Yourself A Priority
• Weight Changes and Depression
• Health and Depression: Psychological Treatments
• Chemical Theories on Depression
• Lifting Depression The Many Ways Up