What Can Inactivity Do To A Seniors Body And Mind
You may have worked hard all your life, been on your feet and made sure your retirement brought enough rest and peace at last. However, if you only spend your days in front of the TV watching your favorite shows, you arent doing your body much good.
- According to the World Health Organization, 60 to 85% of people globally lead a sedentary lifestyle.
- Studies show that sedentary behavior, particularly in the elderly, is detrimental to their health. Medical experts believe that older people sitting too much or spending extended periods in bed are more prone to the risks of chronic health problems such as heart diseases, diabetes, obesity, and even cancer.
- Another research found that the elderly sitting for several hours a day was linked to a 50% greater chance of being disabled over a period of time.
Finding The Right Resources To Answer Your Questions And Meet Your Complex Needs
Just as anxiety and depression tend to be worse when occurring together, treatment of these disorders is most effective when both conditions are addressed at the same time.1
Hartgrove Behavioral Health System provides integrated care that treats these and other mental health issues simultaneously. As part of our comprehensive care, medical specialists and therapists work together to help bring healing and balance in our patients lives a feeling of being in charge of their inner self again.
Link Between Stress & Mental Health
Although many studies have shown a link between stress and mental health problems, the reason behind this connection has remained unclear. Recent research from the University of California, Berkeley, has discovered new insight into why stress can be so detrimental to a persons psyche.
Previous research has found physical differences in the brains of people with stress disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder , and those without. One of the main distinctions is that the ratio of the brains white matter to gray matter is higher in those with stress-related mental disorders compared to those without.
People who experience chronic stress have more white matter in some areas of the brain. The UC Berkeley study wanted to find out the underlying reason for this alteration in the brain composition.
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He Has Seven Miserable Days Of Anxiety Ahead Of Him To Think About It Ruminate Over It Worry About It Overexaggerate It In His Mindover And Over Again
A student wont attend her university classes on the first day because she knows that in some classes the professor will instruct them to go around the room and introduce themselves. Just thinking about sitting there, waiting to introduce herself to a room full of strangers who will be staring at her makes her feel nauseous. She knows she wont be able to think clearly because her anxiety will be so high, and she is sure she will leave out important details. Her voice might even quaver and she would sound scared and tentative. The anxiety is just too much to bear — so she skips the first day of class to avoid the possibility of having to introduce herself in public.
Children’s Friendships And Gad
A 2011 study of the interpersonal functioning of children with GAD found that although kids with GAD had relatively few friends, they were just as likely as kids without the disorder to have a best friend and take part in groups and clubs. They also had similar ratings of social competence by their parents.
This indicates that generalized anxiety disorder in childhood is not necessarily related to problems in relationships with friends. And it suggests that relationship problems in adults with GAD are the result of poor coping strategies that evolve over timeand that could be reversed.
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What Else Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider
If you have an anxiety disorder, ask your provider:
- Whats the best treatment for me?
- Do I need medication? What type?
- How long should I take medication?
- What type of psychotherapy will work best?
- What else can I do to manage my symptoms?
- What other conditions am I at risk for?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
An anxiety disorder can make it difficult to get through your day. Anxiety disorder symptoms include feelings of nervousness, panic and fear. You may also have physical symptoms such as sweating and a rapid heartbeat. But you dont need to live like this. Several effective anxiety disorder treatments are available. Talk to your healthcare provider to figure out your diagnosis and the best treatment plan. Often, treatment combines medications and therapy. Anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants, together with CBT, can help you feel your best.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 12/17/2020.
References
The Behaviors Of Anxiety
It is also important to remember that physical behaviors are not the only types of behaviors. Thought behaviors are extremely common with anxiety, including things like:
- Negative self-talk
- Feeling as though you are going crazy.
- Convincing yourself something is wrong with you.
- Sleep disturbances.
- Changes in posture or activity as a result of anxiety.
All of these are still technically behaviors. In a way, anxiety itself is a behavioral issue. It is the activation of the fight or flight response when no fear is present, and upon activation it is not uncommon to find many different types of unusual behaviors and symptoms that arise as a result.
That’s why the only way to really stop these behaviors is to take steps to control, manage, and reduce your anxiety.
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What Strategies Are Often Used In Treating This Dual Diagnosis
Evidence-based research suggests that both anxiety and depression be treated at the same time.
Effective strategies often used in treating these co-occurring conditions include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy CBT is often used to treat people with both disorders. Fears, anxieties and tendencies toward depression are managed by seeking out their root causes. Once uncovered, patients learn how to take control of their emotions and life.
- Antidepressant medications Often combined with CBT, these may be prescribed in treating both disorders. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are new antidepressant drugs that produce fewer side effects than their predecessors.
- Exercise This can be very helpful for both disorders. Physical activity causes feel-good chemicals to be released in the body. This aids in relaxation and feeling of well-being.
- Relaxation techniques This typically involves meditation or mindfulness. These techniques can often help to remedy both disorders and improve quality of life.2
What If I Am Not Happy With My Treatment
If you are not happy with your treatment you can:
- talk to your doctor about your treatment options,
- ask for a second opinion,
- get an advocate to help you speak to your doctor,
- contact Patient Advice and Liaison Service and see whether they can help, or
- make a complaint.
There is more information about these options below.
Treatment options
You should first speak to your doctor about your treatment. Explain why you are not happy with it. You could ask what other treatments you could try.
Tell your doctor if there is a type of treatment that you would like to try. Doctors should listen to your preference. If you are not given this treatment, ask your doctor to explain why it is not suitable for you.
Second opinion
A second opinion means that you would like a different doctor to give their opinion about what treatment you should have. You can also ask for a second opinion if you disagree with your diagnosis. You dont have a right to a second opinion. But your doctor should listen to your reason for wanting a second opinion.
Advocacy
An advocate is independent from the mental health service. They are free to use. They can be useful if you find it difficult to get your views heard. There are different types of advocates available. Community advocates can support you to get a health professional to listen to your concerns. And help you to get the treatment that you would like.
The Patient Advice and Liaison Service
You can find your local PALS details through this website link:
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What Is Separation Anxiety Disorder
This condition mostly happens to children or teens, who may worry about being away from their parents. Children with separation anxiety disorder may fear that their parents will be hurt in some way or not come back as promised. It happens a lot in preschoolers. But older children and adults who experience a stressful event may have separation anxiety disorder as well.
It Would Be Awful If Everyone Realized How Much Anxiety They Experienced In Daily Life
Unfortunately, without some kind of education, knowledge and , social anxiety continues to wreak havoc throughout their lives. Adding to the dilemma, when a person with social anxiety finally gets up the nerve to seek help, the chances that they can find it are very, very slim.
Making the situation more difficult is that social anxiety does not come and go like some other physical and psychological problems. If you have social anxiety one day… you have it every day for the rest of your life, unless you receive the appropriate therapy from an experienced therapist.
The feelings I described to you at the beginning of the article are those of people with “generalized” social anxiety. That is, these symptoms apply to most social events and functions in almost every area of life. I suffered from social anxiety myself for twenty years before I ever saw the term or read about its symptoms in a book.
As with all problems, everyone with social anxiety has slightly different symptoms. Some people, for example, cannot write in public because they fear people are watching and their hand will shake. Others are very self-conscious and they find it too difficult to hold down a job. Still others have severe anxiety about eating or drinking in the presence of other people. Blushing, sweating, and “freezing” are other physiological symptoms. Some people with social anxiety feel that a certain part of their body are particularly “strange looking” and vulnerable to being stared at.
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What Are Anxiety Disorders
We all have feelings of anxiety, worry and fear sometimes. These can be normal responses to certain situations. For example, you might worry about a job interview, or about paying a bill on time. These feelings can give you an awareness of risks and what you need to do in a difficult or dangerous situation. This reaction is known as fight or flight.
Your brain responds to a threat or danger by releasing stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. Even if the danger is not real, these hormones cause the physical symptoms of anxiety. Once the threatening situation has stopped, your body will usually return to normal.
But if you have an anxiety disorder these feelings of fear and danger can be ongoing and interrupt your daily routine long after the threat has gone. They can make you feel as though things are worse than they actually are.
Everyones experience of anxiety disorders is different. Not everyone who has an anxiety disorder will experience the same symptoms.
Mental symptoms of anxiety can include:
- racing thoughts,
Anxiety can lead to depression if left untreated.
The Relationship Between Anxiety And Depression
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While anxiety is generally considered a high-energy state and depression a low-energy state, anxiety and depression are more closely related than you might think. A person with depression often experiences a lot of anxiety, possibly even to the extent of having panic attacks.1
Anxiety disorders involve more than common nervousness and worry. They can cause terrifying fear about things other people wouldnt think twice about. Many people with anxiety disorders fully comprehend that their thoughts are irrational. But they still cant stop them. Feelings of losing inner control haunt them. This angst is one of the entry ways for depression.2
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How Anxiety Affects Relationships
During adolescence, you might find it difficult for you to connect with others. One of the reasons for this might be the anxiety youve experienced before, especially in those moments of rejection. Thats also known as social anxiety and it affects how you relate to others.
This can make you think youll be rejected even without making contact first. You start to behave like a reject. When you do get involved with someone, your anxiety will make you act submissive or dependent.
Anxiety can also keep you from going out and meeting new people. Its the perfect excuse to not engage with others.
Something as simple as a conversation with someone else becomes a difficult task. You can feel the anxiety effects when you start putting obstacles in your relationships. This can seriously damage your mental health.
Even after all youve been through, you need to start unlearning what you know so far. Take a look at your past, move on, and start rebuilding your life.
Common Relationship Problems For People With Gad
When you worry a lot about your family, friends, coworkers, and others, you may use negative strategies to cope with this worry. Over time, this can erode the very relationships you are working so hard to maintain. That results in issues such as:
- Having few relationships
- Feeling suspicious or lacking self-confidence “checking up” on others too frequently needing reassurance
- Being irritable with others or overly critical of them
- Overreacting to situations and making others feel uncomfortable
- Having a tendency to end relationships out of fear
- Feeling dependent on or clingy toward others
- Insecurity, which leads to fear and doubt about others’ intentions
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What Causes Generalised Anxiety Disorder
The exact cause of GAD is not fully understood, although it’s likely that a combination of several factors plays a role.
Research has suggested that these may include:
- overactivity in areas of the brain involved in emotions and behaviour
- an imbalance of the brain chemicals serotonin and noradrenaline, which are involved in the control and regulation of mood
- the genes you inherit from your parents you’re estimated to be 5 times more likely to develop GAD if you have a close relative with the condition
- having a history of stressful or traumatic experiences, such as domestic violence, child abuse or bullying
- having a painful long-term health condition, such as arthritis
- having a history of drug or alcohol misuse
But many people develop GAD for no apparent reason.
More Than Anything He Doesnt Want Anyone To Know Hes Afraid
Many times people with social anxiety simply must be alone — closeted — with the door closed behind them. Even when theyre around familiar people, a person with social phobia may feel overwhelmed and have the feeling that others are noticing their every movement and critiquing their every thought. They feel like they are being observed critically and that other people are making negative judgments about them.
One of the worst circumstances, though, is meeting people who are “authority figures”. Especially people such as bosses and supervisors at work, but including almost anyone who is seen as being “better” in some way. People with social anxiety may get a lump in their throat and their facial muscles may freeze up when they meet this person. The anxiety level is very high and theyre so focused on “not failing” and “giving themselves away” that they dont even remember what was said. But later on, theyre sure they must have said the wrong thing…because they always do.
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