Senior anxiety: How do you manage new on-set anxiety as you age?

Hello to all

I went to my PCM at Walter Reed Bethesda Friday along with my wife…he is a good man who takes good care of us, but the drive from Fredericksburg Va to there can be a long hectic one…he prescribed some BP medication for my wife to take with her current regiment and see after 2 weeks if it improves…when my visit turn came afterwards I went over my morning anxiety attacks and he mentioned that it is quite common among seniors, especially for someone who is codependent.. I told him how much I worried about my wife’s health as well as my own and how I fear the notion of being alone in this world.. I also mentioned seeing a psychiatrist tomorrow and he recommended that I go back on the Prozac 10 mg once daily.. I went to Ft Belvoir yesterday to pick this and nine other medications that needed to be renewed…I just wanted to update this to anyone who might read this…thanks and I hope a good day and night to all. pvctom

Have you considered getting a dog or cat? Dogs provide emotional support and warm comfort. Cats can be a bit more aloof but many do snuggle up providing warm comfort and connection. Having been raised in a house with TOO MANY cats I lean towards dogs as better for giving humans love and comfort. A small, older dog might be perfect. Walking a dog outdoors is a great way to meet people. Depending on your neighborhood kids and adults will sometimes come up wanting to pet your dog and exchange dog stories. Dog parks are another place to meet people as long as they have a separate section for small dogs.

If you're allergic there are now a lot of mixed breeds with a poodle as half the mix. Poodles add no-shed coats and lower allergy risk. My son has a Bernadoodle (Bernese Mt Dog and Poodle)and I once cared for the most adorable Peekapoo, (Pekinese and Poodle). There are so many different ones now I've lost track of them all. Purchased as puppies they can bee very expensive but you might find one needing a home at the pound.

I could go on and on with good reasons to have a dog, if you can have a plan if you should be unable to care for it in the near future.

Now the cat lovers out there can have their say. Cats are less fuss and bother, except for the litter box, and some do dote on their owners. There are so many at the shelters that it is heartbreaking.

Good luck and take care!

Well thank you so much for your nice reply and yes I’ve thought about a dog.. but we’ve had so many cats in the past and I loved playing with them…dogs are a problem for us…but I agree with all that you say…dogs are man’ s best friends..I’ve had Boston terriers, a pit bull and a sweet mix of dogs in the past…it’s heartbreaking when they go…as well as my beloved Siamese cat (monk)..now monk was a spiritual connection cat I am sure…many years ago, and I mean late 60’s early 70’s, I came home unfortunately suffering from the effects from a reckless ingestion of LSD…I was lying in my bed on R st nw Washington DC and that dear cat sensed that I was having a bad go of it…that precious beautiful cat laid with me, looked into my eyes and proceeded to lick my hand all through the night…the next morning the effects were wearing off and Monk seemed to know it somehow…he was an amazing cat…it truly broke my heart when he accidentally rolled in some leaked antifreeze from the bottle carelessly left in the front floor of the car..🚗 he tried to lick himself clean and the rest you can imagine..no more dear animals for me…but I truly love them, but never forgave myself for not being more careful with dear Monk…sincerely appreciate your decent advice about getting a dog or a cat…may your day and night be good and peaceful…pvctom 🙏

When I was a kid my family had a Siamese cat which my sister named Timmy. He was cut above and knew it. We lived in a house owned by the college where my father taught. When maintenance guys came to mow the lawn with their huge riding mowers Timmy would crouch down in the grass and refuse to move. They would have to stop and nudge him out of the way.
Animals are wonderful. After my husband died unexpectedly I was in pretty bad shape. About one week after his death I woke up in the morning looking down the wet, black nose of one of our dogs named Daniel. The wet nose was briefly all I could see. When I'm feeling down I still remember that moment. It was not a miracle cure for sadness but in some way it did help and still does.
Good luck!

Thanks for that nice reply and I appreciate your story..this is a nice place to come to to type out to all who wish to read or comment on about medical conditions and mental health.. I love all that I’ve heard here…🙏 pvctom

I agree with you completely. I am filled with a sense of dread and regret for selling my property in Ky and moving to Florida...I feel that with the state of our country and the world being so volatile I should, and many others, should gather with family and like-minded friends to live in care of each other. I am turning 70 this year and miss my grandchildren. I feel like I could handle the anxiety by focusing on my children and grandchildren and we support each other by sharing resources. Seems like all around me there are homes filled with only 1 or 2 people drawing energy and requiring large amounts of money to maintain an empty home. I love being warm in Florida and daily sunshine is very therapeutic, but I would feel much more worthy if my time were used in directly loving my children, grandchildren and my nearby community.

I would trade warmth for my children/grandchildren. Put a sweater on!

Hello to all,
I went to my psych appointment Thursday and I left feeling frustrated and mislead…the psychiatrist kept going over my meds, which had already been done previously and I clearly irritated her when I asked when do we discuss my anxiety and morning dread, and what can be done about it…said replied, ‘we don’t do that here we manage your medicines’..if you want therapy you need a therapist…I have a PCM who prescribes and manages my meds..she was advertised as a psychiatrist who deals with geriatric general anxiety disorder, depression and panic attacks by her medical group…I told her on the way out, that they were being misleading and don’t bother scheduling me for anymore ‘behavior medicine’ appointments…she was ‘totally cold 🥶 as ice ‘….if someone were to ask me…I’d say she needed couch therapy more than me…UNBELIEVABLE…I hope for all a good day and
night….pvctom

I agree with you.. She's sounds like her bedside manner could use a lot of improvement..don't think twice about her. Perfectly good questions should have decent answers. Doctors now seem to be above the rest of us. Like a privilege to see one. My phone rang the other day in a drs appointment she proceeded to tell me if I answered it. She was wa!Ilking out and I was to leave and not return. I have had this same doctor for 16 yrs. What the hell..I sympathy with you

Yes, I agree…I have to make sure my phone is on mute when I go in…My main problem with this psych visit, was time it takes to get an appointment 🙏