It is normal for a person to experience stress and anxiety when faced with stress. In the face of stress, anxiety helps us to better deal with problems and cope with various adverse events that occur. It is normal to experience anxiety when a person is suddenly diagnosed with a certain disease or after experiencing some horrible event. However, once this anxiety becomes excessive and affects daily life and social interactions, it may be pathological.
It is common for anxiety disorders to occur among older adults. About 10-20% of older adults have had anxiety disorders, but most patients miss the diagnosis because they are not taken seriously.
Anxiety disorders in older adults are often not properly diagnosed for a variety of reasons. This is due to the fact that older adults are usually not very good at recognizing their abnormal presentation. Even when they are aware of them, they are reluctant to seek medical attention for them. Some older adults refuse to receive treatment, perhaps because they have been in a state of anxiety for so long that they have mistakenly believed it to be normal and do not feel the need for medical treatment.
If left untreated, anxiety disorders can cause cognitive dysfunction, leading to a decrease in quality of life and possibly an exacerbation of existing physical illnesses.
What factors can lead to anxiety disorders?
1.High level of psychological stress and traumatic events
2.Death of a close friend or family member, prolonged and heavy grief
3.Alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse
4.Family history of anxiety disorders
5. Other mental or physical illnesses or neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia)
Advanced age, declining physical condition, memory impairment, psychological stress due to injury or death, and trauma can all contribute to the development of anxiety disorders. Fear of increasing age can be accompanied by anxiety. Many older adults become a burden to their families because they fear that as they age, they will not be able to pay for daily living and medical expenses. Or fears about life in old age, such as having to rely on others, needing to be alone, and facing death.
Clinical manifestations of anxiety disorders.
1.Excessive worry or fear
2.Changes in daily life and excessive emphasis on ritualistic actions
3.Avoidance of social interaction
4, excessive worry about safety issues
5, palpitations, dyspnea, tremors, nausea, sweating and other physical manifestations
6.Decrease in sleep
7.Muscle tension and fatigue
8.Hoarding addiction
9.Mood depression
10, Alcohol or other psychoactive substance abuse
In addition, depression and anxiety often occur together in older adults. When these conditions arise, it is important to seek prompt medical attention.
Diagnosis of anxiety disorders.
When an elderly person feels that he or she has anxiety, he or she should promptly seek medical attention and have a psychiatrist make a comprehensive judgment of the patient’s clinical presentation to arrive at a clear clinical diagnosis. Due to the various factors of anxiety disorders, the current diagnosis of anxiety disorders is mainly to exclude organic disease factors, combined with neuropsychological scale assessment, and further symptomatological diagnosis of patients.
Treatment for anxiety disorders
The treatment methods for anxiety disorders include medication, psychotherapy, relaxation therapy, occupational therapy, family therapy, etc.
I. Medication.
Medications can control the condition. Patients must take medications as prescribed by a psychiatrist or geriatric psychiatrist, and can be supplemented with psychotherapy.
The main drugs for controlling anxiety symptoms are antidepressants, anxiolytics, beta-blockers, etc.
1. Antidepressants: Antidepressants can be used to treat anxiety disorders by adjusting the concentration of chemicals in the brain to improve symptoms. Antidepressants often start to work after 4-6 weeks of medication, so it is very important to adhere to the medication as prescribed by the doctor. Antidepressants include pentraxin reuptake inhibitors, pentraxin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, etc.
2, anti-anxiety drugs: short-term use of anti-anxiety drugs can often quickly control anxiety symptoms.
3, beta-blockers: beta-blockers can reduce anxiety by alleviating the somatic symptoms associated with anxiety disorders.
2.Psychotherapy.
Psychotherapy includes communication with a senior counselor in order to discover the etiology of anxiety disorders and how to deal with clinical symptoms.
In cognitive-behavioral therapy, the therapist helps the patient reshape the cognitive model of fearful and anxious behavior. The therapist can help the client master relaxation therapy in order to relieve anxiety. When the patient is ready to face the fear, the therapist will perform desensitization through exposure therapy.
Advice to patients.
1. Confront the anxiety or fear directly (e.g., if the patient is worried about his or her financial situation, a conversation with the family financial manager may be helpful).
2.Communicate often with family and friends.
3, learn stress management techniques, such as meditation, prayer or deep abdominal breathing.
4.Exercise more.
5.Avoid all factors that may aggravate anxiety symptoms: caffeine, nicotine, overeating, cold and flu medicine abuse, illegal drug use, alcohol (although alcohol can help patients relax, alcohol can cause anxiety and depression by interfering with sleep and somatic conditions).
6. Limit access to negative news.
Advice to caregivers.
1. Stay calm and give the necessary security.
2. Understand their fears, but do not engage in them (do not actively mention them).
3. Give appropriate support, but do not support the patient’s anxiety.
4.Encourage the elderly to participate in social activities.
5.Take the older person to a psychiatrist.
The above information is only scientific knowledge and is not a substitute for a professional health care provider. If you or your family members are troubled by this problem, please consult a psychiatrist or other health care professionals.