Depression and Anxiety at an older age

@pjss48: I’m 73 and have been posting for some time about my issues with anxiety. I recently started on Lexapro – 10 mg – and I do feel better. But I still occasionally get spells of sudden-onset anxiety and nausea lasting about a minute. I’m a type A personality and truly believe that catches up with you in later years. I have much more trouble handling stress than I did a decade or two ago.
So I take my Lexapro and try to remember these attacks likely won’t kill me. I deep breathe and turn my thoughts to a peaceful place. I empathize with you and want you to know you are not alone.

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Karen thanks for your interest in my post. You have a lot to deal with. I hope knowing we have similar challenges and can talk to each other helps. Have a good night. God bless. Peggy

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@pjss48 and everyone,

I suffered from depression, anxiety and panic attacks for most of my life. I used to take Lorazepam to control my anxiety and panic attacks only when they were particularly bad. About 6 years ago, I started taking Citalopram antidepressant. It took me a few months to realize that I was no longer having panic attacks or anxiety! I couldn't even take airplanes before due to my panic but now I really enjoy flying. Perhaps you can get DNA testing to determine if you are taking the antidepressant that will work best for you. I think I accidentally started on the best one for me.

Another thing that I recently started doing again is Yoga. I do a class that is specifically designed for seniors (I'm nearly 70). My very first session I felt so much better! I'm continuing to do weekly yoga and feel so much more energy when I'm done. I took yoga for about 10 years previously, but since I retired and moved 3 years ago, I haven't done it. I'm so happy I restarted it. The thing is, you can go at your own speed with Restorative Yoga or Hatha Yoga, as it's not a competition. Instead, it's a way to clear your mind and focus on the poses, your muscles, your breathing, and how to relax into the more difficult stretches and poses. I am much more active now that I've restarted.

I was feeling very lonely after my move to Southern California. My husband’s family is here and they're wonderful, but they all live far from us. I've also found that I can't talk about certain things that break the unwritten "code of silence." I am immediately "put down" by the matriarch when I do. So, I decided to check out the local Senior Center, which is where I found the yoga class. I've also been very active in support of my candidates of choice for the November election which has led to my meeting other people my age. As a result of both these new activities, I am making new friends. Two women from the yoga class have talked me into going to the watercolor class and the oil painting class. These have no costs associated (except for buying the supplies on my own), and sound good. There is also a chorus that meets and I'm thinking of joining it as well. A few months ago I wanted to do these things, but I was nervous about being judged for not being great at any of them. Since I started yoga, I'm no longer nervous about participating. I even had a very good lunch there last week for only $3.00. They serve seniors every weekday, which saves lots of $$, especially in California. I met more nice people there who told me how I can get "no cost" yoga through Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage because they allow you to go to LA Fitness classes everyday of the week! I'm changing my Medicare program in October to Kaiser. I also learned that some of the community colleges around my city allow seniors to attend some classes for free!

What I'm trying to say is that by venturing out of my house and working on political campaigns and taking one yoga class, a whole world of activity choices and new potential friends opened for me. I am an extrovert, so sitting at home just saps me of life energy; I get depressed and start dying on the vine. I like and need to be around others with whom I can talk and interact. Perhaps if you have a community center close they may have programs that are attractive to you and will encourage you to find ways to get out. My downs always go away when I'm interacting with others–and taking my antidepressant.

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The best thing for me is to do my own thing. Way too much of an introvert as well as highly sensitive. I could not even teach school because of who I am. I like people, but being a part of something social is not for me. There are no senior type things and BINGO is NOT my thing. I have tried and there are too many I cannot handle. Being old with depression and anxiety is hard. Trying to volunteer is not an option either. I have settled into my little woman's cave and allow the world go by outside. I do not even enjoy the grocery store as I once did. Just hurt too much to play the game.

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