Emotional Signs of Aging

Aging is referred to as the progressive deterioration of body structure and function. This affects all organs in the body, most popularly, the skin wrinkles, becomes drier, and rougher. There are more to know when it comes to the signs of aging, but, this article aims to emphasize only its emotional signs.

It’s worth noting that, recognizing the emotional signs of aging isn’t a difficult task as thought. And that the mind is subjected to aging just the way the body deteriorates with time.

It is important to take proper consideration of the psychological impacts of aging, the good understanding of it as well as setting a goal for a good mental health will surely give you a successful aging. And this was geared by a study conducted by American Association for Geriatric Psychology, which shows that, 20% of adults over 55 report mental health concerns.

The followings are signs you shouldn’t overlook when you begins to age:

Paranoid ideas about people and events

When suspicious or irrational thoughts take over completely i.e. having beliefs that are exaggerated or unfounded. You may already in for the bad side of aging. You could start feeling being threatened suddenly, thinking that people are talking about you behind your back or bullying you.

 

I always expect someone to knock on my door and when I open it, that they will attack me. And when I go out, I think I will be beaten up by people. 

Absentmindedness

Impaired cognitive functioning which causes people to repeat themselves in conversation, with difficulty in Lucid thoughts. This is also a strong indication of Alzheimer, a disease affecting one in ten

Americans over the age of 65 according to report. If left unattended to, It could pave way for an intense damage in the mental functioning.

Note this: Tips for Starting a Healthy Lifestyle

Hallucinations

Memory loss

Forgetfulness sets in, this makes the person capacity of reasoning to decline and also process information more slowly other than before. But this isn’t a big deal as speculated, because, intellectual capacity of good percentage of the senior citizens remains the same.

For some people, it’s a bit easier for them to remember events that happened some years back other than those that happened the previous day. This has to do with how memory loss affects short-term memory more than long-term.

Related: Warning Signs of Mental Illness

 ‘Helping your loved ones cope’ will be my next article on Aging. You can subscribe now for notification.

References:

• Ulrich Mayr, PhD: Psychology and Aging.

• Schaie, K. W. (1990). Intellectual development in adulthood. In J. E. Birren & K. W. Schaie (Eds), Handbook of the Psychology of Aging. San Diego, CA: Academic Press

• Fisher, B., Ed., (2006) Attention Deficit Disorder, Practical Coping Mechanisms Second Edition Informa Health Care, New York, NY.

• David Stokes, Psychology and Ageing Position Paper, APS National Office.

• Mind.org.uk

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