Our Ask An Angel correspondent is Arlene Petersen, Life Care Navigation Specialist in the area of senior home care.
Q.I have been experiencing severe anxiety to the point where I cannot function. I thought I was going to be in relaxation mode in my golden years, but this is far from it. When I have anxiety, I am almost physically paralyzed. I’ve even gone to the emergency room.
A. The stress of life can be overwhelming for many of us. Surprisingly, as we age, worries can become more prevalent and can bring about anxiety, which may affect us physically. Sadly, this has touched the lives of many seniors. There are many causes for anxiety and it can manifest differently for everyone. It is very important to pay attention to the symptoms as soon as they surface.
The first and most important step is to seek the advice and help of your primary care physician. Your doctor will ask many questions and may even prescribe medication to help with the symptoms you are experiencing. Your doctor may run a series of tests to make sure nothing physical is the source of your anxiety. Once the physical tests are evaluated, the emotional aspects can be tackled. Don’t be surprised if your doctor refers you to a professional that deals with anxiety. This can include talking with a counselor or meeting with a psychiatrist to prescribe proper medication to help you through this.
Remember that there can be many causes for the anxiety you feel. Moving through this situation in your life will require open communication with your family and doctor. The good news is there are many types of medications that can help with this, and it does not mean that you will rely on them forever. There is no shame in getting help to get you through this, and your support system will help you with that!
• Have a question for our angel correspondent? You can send our angel an email to apetersen@visitingangels.com or send your question via mail to Ask An Angel, 65 Woodbury St., South Elgin, IL 60177.
