Anxiety Attack - What to Do? 4 Tips on Identifying Anxiety in Your Aging Parent
One of the most common mental disorders among the elderly is generalized anxiety disorder, in which a person is continuously troubled and has distressing worries that are hard to manage.
Studies show that this disorder affects 7% of seniors.
When having a panic or anxiety attack, what to do next becomes a key question.
As a person ages, it is normal to begin having concerns about things such as finances and failing health.
However, if a person shows extreme worry about everyday events and activities for at least six months, he/she may have generalized anxiety disorder.
This disorder can severely affect the older persons' quality of life, resulting in sleeping difficulty and limiting his/her daily activities.
If left untreated, this disorder can lead to depression.
Because the elderly tend to be uncomfortable discussing psychiatric symptoms, very few will seek out treatment, and are more likely to talk about their physical ailments.
Some of the physical symptoms that are frequently brought to their doctors are: chest pains, headaches, and fatigue.
If you have observed some changes in your aging parent, the following four tips can help identify anxiety: 1) Does your parent appear to have more worries than usual and do those worries seem out of balance with reality? 2) Has your parent made a change in his/her daily routine and activities, such as refusing to attend previously attended activities or started to avoid social situations? 3) Have you noticed your parent showing a mood change such as crying episodes or an absence of excitement and emotion? 4) Has your parent started a new medication or using more of a particular one than before? The side effects from some medications (tremors, irregular heartbeat, or breathing problems) can appear as symptoms of anxiety.
Additionally, the use of alcohol or an increased use of medication can be a way to "self-medicate.
" In trying to find a cure for a panic or anxiety attack - what to do next will be dependent on what is causing the worries.
Getting your parent help should begin with having a medical checkup.
Once it is determined what is causing the anxiety, the doctor will be in a better position to find the best treatment available to help lessen the symptoms, and allow your parent to regain control of his/her life.
Studies show that this disorder affects 7% of seniors.
When having a panic or anxiety attack, what to do next becomes a key question.
As a person ages, it is normal to begin having concerns about things such as finances and failing health.
However, if a person shows extreme worry about everyday events and activities for at least six months, he/she may have generalized anxiety disorder.
This disorder can severely affect the older persons' quality of life, resulting in sleeping difficulty and limiting his/her daily activities.
If left untreated, this disorder can lead to depression.
Because the elderly tend to be uncomfortable discussing psychiatric symptoms, very few will seek out treatment, and are more likely to talk about their physical ailments.
Some of the physical symptoms that are frequently brought to their doctors are: chest pains, headaches, and fatigue.
If you have observed some changes in your aging parent, the following four tips can help identify anxiety: 1) Does your parent appear to have more worries than usual and do those worries seem out of balance with reality? 2) Has your parent made a change in his/her daily routine and activities, such as refusing to attend previously attended activities or started to avoid social situations? 3) Have you noticed your parent showing a mood change such as crying episodes or an absence of excitement and emotion? 4) Has your parent started a new medication or using more of a particular one than before? The side effects from some medications (tremors, irregular heartbeat, or breathing problems) can appear as symptoms of anxiety.
Additionally, the use of alcohol or an increased use of medication can be a way to "self-medicate.
" In trying to find a cure for a panic or anxiety attack - what to do next will be dependent on what is causing the worries.
Getting your parent help should begin with having a medical checkup.
Once it is determined what is causing the anxiety, the doctor will be in a better position to find the best treatment available to help lessen the symptoms, and allow your parent to regain control of his/her life.
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