Is Anxiety Interfering with Your Daily Life?

Sunday night 58 people were killed and around 500 people injured, gunned down, at a concert in Las Vegas in the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history. Last week, Hurricane Maria wreaked havoc on Puerto Rico, with a death count currently at 34 and still around 95% of the island without power. There is no arguing that this year has been heartbreaking. Turning on the news or opening your computer reveals one tragedy after another. Hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires and shootings. It’s enough to make you want to stay inside and hide from the world.

While all these tragic events are on a large scale, there is probably a lot you, or a senior loved one, are facing in your own life. Personal events and challenges add to our stress load. Seniors often face many stressors like changing and declining health, a fear of falling, changing housing needs, or acute illness, to name just a few. Do you find yourself anxious or worrying more often than not? Is your worry interfering with your daily life?

The most common anxiety disorder is known as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). According to Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), “Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent and excessive worry about a number of different things. People with GAD may anticipate disaster and may be overly concerned about money, health, family, work, or other issues. Individuals with GAD find it difficult to control their worry. They may worry more than seems warranted about actual events or may expect the worst even when there is no apparent reason for concern.”

A diagnosis of GAD occurs if difficult to control worry is present more often than not for an excess of 6 months. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), list several other anxiety-related signs and symptoms that may be present among anxiety sufferers:

• Restlessness or feeling wound-up or on edge
• Being easily fatigued
• Difficulty concentrating or having their minds go blank
• Irritability
• Muscle tension
• Difficulty controlling the worry
• Sleep problems (difficulty falling or staying asleep or restless, unsatisfying sleep)

Is your anxiety interfering with your daily life? Don’t suffer alone! Seek help, find support, talk to someone.