| Grief and anger often becomes a heavy burden | | | | grief bottled up inside you. If seniors are not |
| for people as they age. Throughout life, people | | | | allowed to vent and get rid of their anger, the |
| experience grief over many things. They grieve if | | | | body can decline at a faster rate. |
| there home burns down, lose a job or a pet. | | | | It's been suggested that people become angry |
| However, an area of loss that is not usually | | | | because they feel a false sense of entitlement. |
| considered with grief is the physical decline during | | | | This crops up when expectations do not line up |
| the aging process. | | | | with reality. A feeling of undo entitlement happens |
| Grief can be detected, in seniors, by the | | | | when we believe we do not deserve to get old. |
| comments they make about losing their youth. | | | | There is just one way to confront getting older, |
| Many times, they speak with remorse at lost | | | | and that is to recognize that we are not alone, |
| youth, decreased functionality, and body strength. | | | | everyone will get old, and we are not entitled to |
| When a senior citizen notices they are losing | | | | be exempt from the aging process. Recognizing |
| muscle strength, or begin experiencing arthritis, | | | | this fact can help to eliminate anger from the |
| stiffness, and joint pain, it's not unusual to notice | | | | arena as we cope with the affects of aging. |
| anger. They become upset and wish to escape | | | | Attempting to deny the advance of life's end, is |
| the betrayals of their bodies, and become very | | | | probably the sole cause of midlife crisis's. Trying |
| angry in the process. | | | | to behave as if they are not getting older and |
| No one asks to get old or feeble. Most likely, if | | | | hiding emotional responses to aging can cause |
| we had a choice, most of us would vote to | | | | devastating results. Avoiding the feelings about |
| discontinue and ban getting old. A person might | | | | aging has caused many to act irresponsibility or |
| grieve when they are bestowed the title of | | | | make bad decisions. |
| "Senior Citizen." At first, a senior citizen, might not | | | | By recognizing the problems that naturally happen |
| notice the changes that are taking place in the | | | | through aging, some of the anger can be avoided. |
| physical aspects of the body or the mind. And, | | | | Instead of dwelling on declining abilities, senior |
| perhaps, as much as they hate the thought of | | | | citizens can minimize the impacts by living with a |
| getting old, family members also grieve about | | | | healthier attitude toward aging. |
| losing the 'young' mom or dad they once knew. | | | | Focusing on your diet, exercise, keeping busy, and |
| Unfortunately, getting angry about growing old | | | | doing everything you can to stay rested and |
| has no escape; there's no one to blame it on. So, | | | | emotionally sound. Thinking about or getting |
| sometimes the result is that seniors lash out at | | | | involved with other people can help to create a |
| the ones closest to them. Anger and frustration | | | | healthier attitude toward aging and minimize its |
| with the aging body can cause tempers to rage | | | | effects. |
| or flare up unexpectedly. Many times, a senior | | | | Try to keep your spirits up, be happy through |
| lashes out at a loved one or caregiver because | | | | achievements and seemingly small enjoyments. |
| they are nearby and easily accessible. The aging | | | | Keep a young at heart attitude and get in touch |
| person knows it isn't fair, but may have a hard | | | | with the child inside you. You've come too far, |
| time explaining their actions. | | | | traveled many winding paths, and you deserve to |
| Learning how to cope with anger about aging is | | | | feel content and happy. Emotions about how you |
| necessary so you don't hurt the innocent ones | | | | feel about yourself can play a major role in the |
| around you. But, it is also unhealthy to keep your | | | | person you choose to be as a senior citizen. |