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How to deal with aging anxiety?

Posted by grahmilou @grahmilou, Dec 30, 2025

The last few years have been hard with multiple surgeries, now recovered, but ongoing pain. The loss of friends recently as they passed and the worrying about how the road feels like it’s getting so much shorter. constantly worrying about the process of dying. trying to stay grateful for today but sometimes the anxiety feels overwhelming especially as I see our country chance for worse and worry about the world for my grandchildren.

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nycmusic | @nycmusic | May 27 7:17am
In reply to @degarden_girl "I have had See's chocolates and they are excellent. The 70% cocoa chocolate I can't resist..." + (show)
Profile picture for degarden_girl @degarden_girl

I have had See's chocolates and they are excellent. The 70% cocoa chocolate I can't resist is "Beyond Good" which is available in some grocery stores. Just thinking about it makes me crave it and I have to just not buy it if I hope to not gain weight.

Indeed, as we age, no cheap chocolate, no cheap champagne!

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@degarden_girl I like Ghirardelli 72 % , dark, not bitter, not sweet…comes in bars or individually wrapped portions (nice gift )…for my own dietary reasons, just tiny bites- after all: ‘’after that first bite it doesn’t get better’’….

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daveshaw | @daveshaw | May 27 7:45am
In reply to @degarden_girl "I have had See's chocolates and they are excellent. The 70% cocoa chocolate I can't resist..." + (show)
Profile picture for degarden_girl @degarden_girl

I have had See's chocolates and they are excellent. The 70% cocoa chocolate I can't resist is "Beyond Good" which is available in some grocery stores. Just thinking about it makes me crave it and I have to just not buy it if I hope to not gain weight.

Indeed, as we age, no cheap chocolate, no cheap champagne!

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@degarden_girl I had to respond when I heard about fine dark chocolate. I have had See’s chocolate and while it is good it doesn’t come close to Lindt or Ghirardelli 72% dark chocolate.
As far as champagne I don’t drink but I had to weigh in on dark chocolate.
Regarding aging and new technology it is happening so quickly. I even dread updates on my Apple IPhone. I recently switched from an 8 to a 15 and that was not easy but I must confess after using it for awhile it really is better. I especially like the better battery life.
Good luck to everyone.

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lmprap | @lmprap | May 27 8:17am
In reply to @babette "I'm right there with you and wish I had the magic to heal this. I'm facing..." + (show)
Profile picture for babette @babette

I'm right there with you and wish I had the magic to heal this. I'm facing a shoulder replacement in a few weeks and have come to understand how much chronic pain affects us. I've also suffered from anxiety/depression and its relationship to pain.

I have done a couple of things to mitigate what you and I are suffering from. The world, especially our country, has become surreal and foreign to me. I simply can't believe what is happening and have chosen to shut down all news. I allow only beauty in my life: music, art, reading, nature.

Second, at I have decided to adopt a palliative care only approach to my health. I have learned about the difference between palliative and hospice care and it's huge! Once I've recovered from my surgery, that is - lol! I will continue to take my usual medications, but will refuse any aggressive interventions and procedures. No more screenings, no MRIs, CT scans, etc. When my body can no long live pain-free and enjoy movement, when I get a serious diagnosis, I will accept comfort care with gratitude.

Third, I take medication for anxiety and depression which have been invaluable.

I'm 68 and, given my family history, thought I would be dealing with this 10 or 20 years from now. I have had a mostly beautiful life. I married a truly wonderful man over 40 years ago, enjoyed meaningful work, raised a daughter with learning disabilities who is now in graduate school studying social work. I was blessed with the most extraordinary parents imaginable. I have enjoyed great friendships (vanishing now), and beautiful places. The ability to think and enjoy complex ideas as well as a simple life.

One book and an article I read recently have been very validating and supportive: Natural Causes, by Barbara Ehrenreich and the attached article.

I am thinking of you and sending all best wishes for peace.

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@babette hi.
I am dealing with anxiety after two surgeries as well. I know we are all different, and I am trying to navigate as well. May I ask the medication that worked best for you.

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carmine100 | @carmine100 | May 27 4:04pm

Dark chocolate and black coffee, two pleasures in my life.

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carmine100 | @carmine100 | May 28 8:31am

A few months ago I was talking to someone at the supermarket and he showed me a site called Yuka. You scan the product bar code and it grades the product and gives good and bad points. Unfortunately my favorite dark chocolate was Goya and it rated poorly. So did most chocolates. The only ones that were acceptable were the high cocoa ones.

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larryg333 | @larryg333 | May 28 11:36am

Yeah, noticed lots of See's Candies' lovers here. ;>)

/LarryG

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1 reply
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gravity3 | @gravity3 | May 28 12:10pm
In reply to @larryg333 "Yeah, noticed lots of See's Candies' lovers here. ;>) /LarryG" + (show)
Profile picture for larryg333 @larryg333

Yeah, noticed lots of See's Candies' lovers here. ;>)

/LarryG

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@larryg333

Can never get enough of peanut crunch and California brittle.

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larryg333 | @larryg333 | May 28 12:45pm

Can tell you must be a true California Girl, gravity3!

/LarryG

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1 reply
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gravity3 | @gravity3 | May 28 1:32pm
In reply to @larryg333 "Can tell you must be a true California Girl, gravity3! /LarryG" + (show)
Profile picture for larryg333 @larryg333

Can tell you must be a true California Girl, gravity3!

/LarryG

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@larryg333

Absolutely!

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maggieingraz | @maggieingraz | May 31 10:03am
In reply to @bestlife71 "@babette Four in the morning and looking for treatment for my severe depression and for my..." + (show)
Profile picture for bestlife71 @bestlife71

@babette

Four in the morning and looking for treatment for my severe depression and for my sons traumatic brain injury. I know that hearing other people’s experiences similar to mine is already making me feel better. Thank you.

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@bestlife71 I’m 73 and live alone. I have two sons but one lives on the west coast. I do have a wonderful grandson who’s the light of my life, but everyone is busy with their lives and we all don’t spend as much time together as I’d like. I guess it’s true, there’s never enough time.
I experience a lot of morning depression and anxiety. I go to bed at night and feel fine and wake up feeling very sad and anxious. I used to have a very busy life, working full time, raising 2 boys as a single, divorced mom, and also helping my aging parents. Life is so different now. I’ve joined a few senior’s groups in my area and they’re ok, but not really fulfilling.
One thing that helps me is having quiet time to just relax and breath I find anxiety dissipates when i get up and move around. Other than that I think taking life one day at a time helps too. I hope your son recovers from his TBI and that you find the light at the end of your tunnel. ❤️

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