Vansaar Mental health and aging

Our mental health encompasses all aspects of our emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. It influences how we interact with others, make decisions and respond to stress.

There is a high risk of mental health issues in the elderly. However, this does not imply that mental health issues are an inevitable component of getting older. Both physical and mental health are interrelated and physical health is prone to decline with age. Life changes like retirement, health issues, losing some of their independence, or adjusting to a new environment etc. can have a negative impact on the mental health of the aging population.

Mental health issues in older people often go unnoticed because some people might believe that symptoms of depression are a natural part of aging. Older adults who need mental health treatment may face obstacles due to the stigma surrounding mental health and the lack of access to mental health care services.

Signs of mental illness in the aging population
Like everyone else, older adults also experience stress, but even the typical emotional and physical stresses of getting older can increase the risk of developing mental illness. Mental health problems can prolong the course of physical health disorders and hinder their recovery. In the elderly, there are a variety of warning signs for mental illness including:

• Energy levels or mood changes
• Changes in sleeping or eating pattern
• Distancing themselves from the people and activities they find enjoyable
• Experiencing unusual confusion, rage, forgetfulness, worry, or fear
• Experiencing unexplained aches and pains
• Feeling numb or a sense that nothing is important
• Feeling sad or hopeless
• Feeling angry or irritable
• Using drugs, alcohol, or smoking more frequently than usual
• Having thoughts and memories that don’t get out of the head
• Believing in things that are not true or hearing voices
• Contemplating harming self or others

Causes of mental health problems in old age
Some of the following changes that can occur as we age can have an impact on our mental health and accelerate our aging.

Retirement:Many individuals find that their work gives them a sense of purpose and improves their self-esteem. Additionally, it can foster friendships, give them a daily routine, and guarantee their financial security.
Retirement can result in a sense of loss. Particularly, if an individual’s profession provided them with a strong sense of identity, they might have trouble coming to terms with their self-identity after retiring.
Relationship with their partner may change as both of them have to become used to spending more time at home. If someone enjoyed the social aspect of their job, they might feel lonely after their retirement.

Bereavement: Losing a loved one can be extremely upsetting. Grief affects every individual differently. Individuals may experience being depressed, enraged, anxious, guilty, shocked, or hopeless.
If the person who passed away suffered from an illness for a long time, individuals can also experience relief or mixed feelings. There's no reason to feel ashamed of how one is feeling.
Some people might experience physical symptoms of grief like muscle aches, headaches, loss of appetite, trouble falling asleep, or trouble focusing.

Physical illness: An individual’s mental well-being and quality of life can be impacted by their physical health. Being physically ill makes it more difficult for them to engage in the activities they previously enjoyed, which may make them feel anxious or depressed.

Medication: Majority of the elderly population may take multiple medications. Every individual process medication differently as they age. They are more prone to adverse reactions like muscle weakness, nausea, lightheadedness, and loss of appetite. Some side effects of medicines like delirium (disturbed state of mind), confusion, and low mood can resemble the symptoms of a mental illness.

Loneliness: While anyone can feel lonely at times. Some old-age experiences like the death of a loved one, health issues that hinder mobility, or retirement can increase the likelihood of elderly people feeling lonely.

Mental health issues arising later in life
As people age, their mental health can be impacted by a variety of factors. Some common mental health issues that older adults may experience include:

• Anxiety: It is a mental health issue affecting older adults that can be caused by factors like health issues, financial stress, and social isolation. Some common physical signs of anxiety are sweating, having a fast heartbeat, feeling worried, being restless, and tensed.
  
  Depression: It is a common mental health concern in older adults, and it can be caused by a number of factors such as chronic medical conditions, the death of loved ones, and changes in living circumstances. Signs of depression can include feeling sad, hopeless and worthless, as well as changes in appetite, sleep, and energy levels.
  
  Substance abuse: If older adults are lonely, unwell, in pain, depressed, or bored they usually start drinking more alcohol.
  Drinking too much can cause anxiety and mood swings. Additionally, it can disrupt sleep patterns, make them nauseous, impair memory, and eventually cause damage to their liver, heart, and brain.
  
  Dementia: It is a condition that can affect older adults and lead to memory, thinking, and behavioral issues. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia in the elderly, causing irreversible brain degeneration. Risk of developing dementia increases with age. Symptoms of dementia include memory loss, sleep disturbances, difficulty in speaking, etc.
  
  Severe mental illness: Conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder typically arises during teenage or early 20s. However, they can affect someone for the first time in later life too. Symptoms of mental illnesses include hallucinations, addictive behaviors, changes in sleep and eating pattern, etc.

Impact of poor mental health on the aging population
An older person's ability to perform basic, daily tasks may be significantly impacted by mental health issues, which can also lower their quality of life and degree of independence. Biological changes that affect the normal functioning of the brain, and social changes that result in loneliness or a sense of worthlessness are significant contributing factors for worsening mental health.
The symptoms and functional disabilities linked to medical diseases like osteoporosis, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes etc. may be made worse by mental disorders. Making a mental health diagnosis is the first step to minimizing these adverse effects. Unfortunately, too many older people struggle without the right help or any help at all because mental health issues are commonly not diagnosed and treated in the aging population.
Elderly people should take care of their mental health just as much as their physical health. This can include remaining active, participating in social activities, etc. Thus, it is recommended to seek expert consultation and obtain mental health assistance to promote the mental wellbeing of elders.