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Mental Health and Wellness
Mental Health and Wellness
Seniors and Stress
Everyone experiences stress at some point in life, including seniors. If you are not coping well, stress can have a negative effect on your body, emotions, thoughts and behaviours.
Stressors for Seniors:
- Loss of independence
- Loss of control over life
and environment - Loss of spouse
- Loss of relatives or close
friends through death or
social isolation - Retirement
- Changes in financial status
after retirement - Loss of sense of purpose
and productivity - Loss of memory
- Deterioration of physical
abilities and chronic illness - Worrying about
institutionalization
What is Stress? Stress is experienced when a person is confronted with a difficult or unpleasant situation, is facing a major life change, or has expectations to meet.
Good Stress: We all need a certain amount of stress in our lives. If not, we feel bored, tired, and have no motivation. A good level of stress can bring excitement, happiness, motivation, and energy, especially if we feel we can cope with everyday stressors and take care of ourselves in a healthy way.
Stress becomes Distress, when too much happens too fast, or when we do not have
the skills to cope effectively. Long-term stress greatly increases the risks for heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, digestive problems, sleep disorders and depression.
What is Healthy Coping? Coping is a set of skills that helps us to deal with daily stressors and to avoid becoming unhealthy. Knowing how to cope does not come naturally to many of us. We have to learn how to cope, just like any other skill. Coping skills improve with practice.
For information on the District Mental Health Services for Older Adults Program call 807-274-9400 or toll free 1-888-813-6503
What are the signs and symptoms of STRESS?
headaches | insomnia | anxiety | procrastination |
withdrawal or isolation | irritability | loss of appetite | weight loss |
weight loss & overeating | depression | impatience | indigestion |
increased perspiration | alcohol use | drug use | memory loss |
10 Ways to Cope with Stress
- Share your feelings with supportive friends and family.
- Use relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, deep breathing, taking a warm bath, having a massage or reading a good book.
Meet life’s
challenges as
they arise and have
a healthy balance
in your life. - Regular exercise is one of the best stress remedies around. Take a walk, work on a hobby.
- Manage your time by doing the essential tasks first and prioritizing the others.
- Maintain a healthy diet and avoid alcohol, caffeine, sugar, fats and tobacco.
- Get enough rest and sleep, take a cat nap once in awhile.
- Help others through volunteer work. There is always a group or service organization looking for volunteers and this will give you a good feeling about yourself.
- Take time for yourself to indulge in activities that you enjoy. Be creative!
Have some fun!
Laugh and be with
people
you enjoy - Avoid perfectionism, nobody is perfect. hoose to think positively and to process information objectively.
- Learn to recognize your danger signals and know what indicators show that you are under stress like: trouble sleeping, feeling depressed, losing your temper, headaches.
If you or someone you know is facing a crisis call Crisis Response Services, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Toll Free at 1-866-888-8988