Does anyone feel old and useless with age?

I just have to respond to the Pussy Riot mention! My daughter took me to hear them lecture some years ago at a local college. The audience had light weight artistic career worries--are you afraid to sell out? But these women, living under such an oppressive regime, basically said the same thing--we don't have time to worry about that. I think that is what it means to be a heroine/hero--inspires me too.

When you ask how to get back to normal, I can identify - but my PCP recommended a different approach - a Pain Rehabilitation Clinic - that taught me to live deal with the things I can, and strategies to cope with the things I cannot change.
I had to throw away my "I can so do it all" mentality and replace it with the realization that "I can only do what I can do. I need to let go of my anger/resentment/sadness and accept my limits."
Now I have a new "normal" that looks a little (or sometimes a lot) different than I expected. This has been a process, involving medication, meditation, study, PT, daily exercise, a better diet, deliberate distraction - and an awareness of limits.
Do I still hurt? have bad days? or bad nights? get sad or angry at the things I can no longer do? have a personal pity party when I can't deal with limits? Absolutely. But I have tools for coping, most of which involve taking time to use some mediation, deep breathing, hot showers and stretching, eating something easy & healthy, then getting out of my own head and staying in the world.
It helps to focus on what you can do, more than regret what you cannot.
Have you tried any guided meditation or hypnosis to relax you and help you sleep? This was a big one for me, made everything else a little better.
Sue

Hi Sue,

Every morning I get up(can’t say wake up since I have chronic insomnia and hardly sleep, even with the help of sleep tea, sleep patches, sleeping pills) and walk my dog, have breakfast, meditate which I’m still in the process of learning because my body won’t relaxing enough to enjoy properly. So I try with a heated eye mask at the same time. By then my stomach starts hurting, every morning. Is it anxiety? If I only had to deal with anxiety, I could accept my new reality of aging and the illnesses I’ve already been suffering with but this is just a constant struggle all day, everyday. How to reprogram my brain when the negativity is so loud. Figuring out how to do acupressure, some exercise, breathing, reaching out to people, online shopping, therapy. Still not coping well because of the pain. Thank you for your kind reply

This is Skeleton. I cheer myself up by remembering I am still on the green side of the grass, I know GOD is not done with me. I am BLESSED. In spite of 7 broken bones, living on a walker, constant pain, I am a child of GOD. I have lost 2 of my children to cancer as well as my sister. I have wonderful grand and great grandchildren. I still have one wonderful son and lots of Orphan Friends I grew up with in an Orphanage in WWII. I will add you to my nightly prayers. GOD bless you.

Dear Skeleton-
The loving kindness of your message tells me your life is very filled with purpose.
Thank you.
Ed

Have much of same issues.
What I try to do is develop a hobby, talent something I can do with hands and mind (since thats not gone yet)…So, I write and do arts and crafts when up to it. It uplifts. Which I am in dire need of more times than not.

Self care. Not selfish. Necessary. When you are or have been caregiver, and are running on empty filling up those reserves can become critical.

I have so much going on my social life suffers and supports are slim but at least i have supports.

It is probably most difficult overcoming physical obstacles & pain. It can wear a person down and out.

I have finally accepted that I can’t ‘help’ right now. I don’t know what the future holds but for this moment, I hang on and hang in there to best of ability. I work at it. There are no shortcuts accept ones we find and with the help and by input of others. It helps when hitting a roadblock so disabling.

There is hope. Even thought things look bleak.

We need to refocus and adjust. That or I’m doomed.

I sincerely hope you find your joy and feel better real soon…as best as you can.
💜

WOW! You sound like me. I am a female age eighty(80) and haven't had a good night's sleep in at least five(5)years. I am looking for a psychotherapist, but have had little success in finding one. I can't take meds as I am an opposite reactor with severe allergies. Went to a women's support group and there was at least a twenty year age difference. While I could relate to some of what they said, it just wasn't right for me. I do understand and am sending you a hug.

Unbelievable!! I’m 62 but look and feel 82 since this happened! How do you survive without sleep and all this anxiety? Thanks for the hug and understanding! You’re a sweetheart!

I am extremely depressed, but am trying to figure a way out. Sometimes just chatting, (casually) with another person does the trick My world is getting smaller, as friends are gone or very sick. I need a purpose as I feel useless and my only child, a son, lives out of state. Many times he is not reachable due to travels in remote areas for business. I have cut out all caffeine and alcohol, eat a very healthy diet and try to exercise every day. Due to Covid and worldly stress, particularly the environment, it is a tough go, but I am now focused on my well being.
That seems to be the answer for me. More hugs to you. You sound like somebody I would like to know. Good luck -you can do it. Sometimes my best information comes from non-experts.

You are sooo young as I just turned eighty. A friend of ours quipped, "my golden years were ten
years ago". Don't give up. I did my knee injuries at age fifteen skiing, was rear ended by a truck at a stop sign age 42. It seems that long Covid brought it all back. The good news an MRI confirmed seriously torn meniscus in both knees and an x-ray of my neck showed serious arthritus (pn). However, I have had no surgery and manage with exercise and heat. YEA! Yes,
faith and meditation are great. Don't give up.