It's especially important right now...

No matter our age, at some point, we all deal with stress and anxiety. Feelings of stress and anxiety manifest in many ways, from raised blood pressure and a quicker heartbeat to increased sweating and restlessness. Stress is a normal human response to danger, but chronic stress can be harmful to your overall health and well-being. 

Our stressors change as we age, and older adults may find new things are triggering these negative feelings. Managing Stress and anxiety can be a constant battle. Often things like deteriorating health, loss of independence, or loneliness due to the loss of a spouse or pet can be triggers for stress in seniors. Follow the tips below for managing these feelings.

Eat a well-balanced diet

It is no secret that a healthy diet, full of fruits, vegetables, and lean protein can help manage chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. But, a healthy diet can also help reduce chronic stress. Eating nutritious food provides your body with the energy it needs to run. For tips on eating well-read, “Eating a well-balanced diet.”

Exercise regularly

A regular exercise routine can help combat negative feelings that can build throughout the day. Even managing stress and anxiety with light exercise releases chemicals in the brain that can elevate mood. Keeping your body moving is also one of the best ways to keep it healthy. For exercise tips read, “6 simple but powerful exercises for seniors.”

Focus on relaxation and meditation

Many people dealing with chronic stress and anxiety find meditation helpful as a healing tool. There are videos you can follow online to help focus your meditation, or you can simply sit in a quiet room and focus your thoughts. There is no one right way to meditate, but practicing meditation for at least 15 minutes a day has been shown to help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.

Utilize services that can help you remain independent

For seniors living alone who wish to remain independent, there are services available that can help offer peace of mind. The daily call service Iamfine is one option for seniors who want to make sure that they will be taken care of should something happen with minimal intrusion. Iamfine is an automated call service where the user answers the phone and presses one if they are fine. Should something happen, and the user does not press one, Iamfine will notify the user’s care circle. The goal is to lower stress and anxiety by having a plan in place. To read about how Iamfine saved one customer’s life, read Vince Acuri’s story.

Talk to someone about stress and anxiety

Managing stress and anxiety is stressful in own. If all else fails, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Chronic stress can be detrimental to overall health and happiness. If you feel like you can’t manage it on your own, don’t be afraid to reach out to someone for help. Health professionals can help direct you to solutions, and family members and friends may offer support.

Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay