According to popular belief, stress is the root of all illness, and stress control has been linked to improved elder health and well-being. For example, if job stress that has been experienced for decades is no longer an issue, one would ask if stress even exists after retirement. Senior stress, on the other hand, can come from a variety of sources, including relationships, money, retiring itself, and several other aspects of life.
The great news is that there are several methods to lessen the detrimental effects of these stresses on both your body and mind and body, even if you are not aware of them. The approaches listed below are efficient stress management techniques that we at Discovery Village At Westchase have put together to help manage stress in elderly people. They are indeed highly beneficial to senior health!
Meditation and Mindfulness
Meditation has been shown in studies to not only give stress relief but also to help establish a type of resistance to future pressure; your stress reaction may be activated less frequently if you meditate consistently. Meditation is an effective stress reducer for the elderly since it requires no specific equipment or physical aptitude, it can be done anywhere, and gives good stress release.
One of our key methods for dealing with stress is to cultivate a feeling of awareness. Quieting a racing mind and becoming increasingly aware of the current moment allows us to be less engrossed in bygones and less worried about the future. We may enjoy “the now” while yet noticing and embracing our emotions and ideas. Meditation is an important part of attaining awareness and lowering stress levels. During meditation, scientists are learning more about the brain’s capacity to adjust and reorganize. This is referred to as “brain plasticity.” Consider “attention” to be a muscle that may be strengthened by meditation.
Many of us resort to modern medicine’s marvels in the midst of stress and worry, asking our doctor for an anti-anxiety or antidepressant pill. This will not address the issue; rather, it will disguise its symptoms. Conversely, mindfulness will assist you in getting to the base of the problem.
Puzzles for the Mind
Solving crossword or Sudoku puzzles, or playing other thinking games, can give cerebral stimulation. Because these games involve intense concentration, they can be a good distraction for people who prefer to obsess over their problems, as well as providing cerebral stimulation. Playing a handheld video game or an internet game may provide a lot of cerebral stimulation, as can tackling the morning crossword puzzle in the local paper.
Breathing Techniques
Breathing techniques are a simple, quick-acting, and efficient stress reliever that individuals of all ages, even the elderly, may readily embrace. With a few slow, regulated breaths, you can dissipate stress no matter where you are.
Restructuring of the Mind
Simply changing the way in which you look at something might make it appear less stressful. You may notice that your stress reaction is activated less and less if you practice finding the good in a scenario, looking at it from a new perspective, or even engaging with a psychotherapist on a specific problem. “Cognitive restructuring” is a clinical phrase for shifting your perspective on things, and it is an essential aspect of cognitive therapy that has been proved to be incredibly beneficial for a range of disorders, including stress.
