As you mature or age, your health may begin to decline. You begin to experience lots of changes where your well-being is concerned. Changes in vision or hearing can also happen with age. Pain could be felt in numerous areas of the body; the kind of pain that doesn’t just go away after some rest. Walking small distances could already be a tall order, pausing every now and then to catch your breath. Your joints feel sore and slowing down may be becoming part of your new lifestyle. With all these changes, you may think that nothing good comes with aging.

With aging can come a lot of changes; physically and mentally. While the above can sound bleak, not all changes have to be negative. There can be a lot of growth and joy that comes with aging. Our perspective can play a large role in how we view this stage of life. Chronic medical conditions can further complicate these views, therapy can help.  

The Connection Between Physical, Mental Health and Aging

According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. “… 60 percent of older adults have or have had two or more chronic conditions. Their common chronic conditions include heart disease, cancer, chronic bronchitis or emphysema, stroke, diabetes mellitus, and Alzheimer’s disease.”  These numbers have not decreased despite modern science and medicine. Though longevity has been extended and the quality of life greatly improved with aging, aging cannot be stalled. Everyone must eventually face it at one point or another. 

Physical and emotional health are connected. This underscores the importance of aging well in your advancing years. Certain medical conditions can cause you to be predisposed to depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, symptoms of both can make seeking treatment difficult. 

Depression can rob you of your motivation and anxiety can leave you feeling too overwhelmed to add more appointments to your schedule. Symptoms rarely improve on their own, intervention is necessary to improve your mental and physical health. 

Growing Treatment Options for Seniors

There is evidence that a demographic shift is already happening. The human population is aging. Children younger than five years old are being outnumbered by the population of seniors. This shift is made possible by the baby boomer’s huge numbers. According to the World Health Organization, “Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world’s population over 60 years will nearly double from 12 percent to 22 percent.” You are not aging alone. There are a lot of people experiencing the same thing as you.

The silver lining in this situation is that this shift can cause an increase in the demand for specialized treatment. So, the world is now seeing greater effort being given into geriatric research and medicine. Today, more attention is paid to senior mental health. Looking ahead, it is possible that more advances will be available in this area. 

Aging Well 

Aging is a natural thing, which means that it proceeds even without any intervention. This happens because it is a result of natural cellular reactions. The process can proceed even faster with additional factors, like pollution and UV rays. Aging also causes changes in a person’s cognitive capacities, increasing their susceptibility to age-related medical conditions. Even though aging cannot be stopped you have the power to age with wellness in mind.

Aging is something that a lot of people fear. While this may be true it doesn’t have to be the focal point of this stage of your life. You can choose how you react to aging and make this phase even better than the ones before. 

Counseling can help you to re-evaluate your beliefs about aging and set new goals to move forward. Carolina Counseling Services – Cameron, NC contracts with therapists who can help. Call CCS today to schedule your first appointment.

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