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Stress is a debilitating condition, but it is much more likely to disrupt the ebb and flow of life when it triggers old age. While we all dream of a stress-free life, some amount of it is still unavoidable. Among seniors, there can be numerous reasons for them to panic. Some of them can be age-related concerns like a weaker body or less energy, while others can be deep lurking psychological concerns. Understanding seniors’ stress can be a little tricky, as the responses and triggers may change as we age. In this article, find some insights on stress in older adults and the ways to avoid it.
How Stress Affects Seniors?
Usually, we experience stress-response whenever we sense danger or potential threat. Due to our survival instinct, it may activate a ‘fight or a flight mode.’ It triggers some hormonal changes that alter our physiology as well. So we may experience different symptoms like breath shortening, muscle tension, and heart palpitation.
Some of the survival instincts may sore as the body ages, or we may experience over sensitize environmental threats. This can upturn the hormonal cocktail of cortisol and adrenaline, leading to greater agility. While this response is critical for us to survive, too much can lead to constant restlessness. As with time, cells start aging, and organ capacity declines in a few cases, it becomes challenging to function at elevated levels.
During stress, the brain function turns differently. The brain’s middle cortex activates during stress, and the frontal lobe takes a back seat. This means you may experience a slow down in decision-making, attention, focus, and concentration, the usual front brain activities. Too much stress can also induce age-related memory problems like dementia or Alzheimer’s.
What Can You Do?
Sometimes people are not even aware of the physical impact of stress, which may manifest later. Therefore it is crucial to address it and receive proper medical attention. For everyday stress conditions, yoga and meditation therapy can be a great help. Some people find psychotherapy, consultation, guided imagery, and taichi useful. Even cognitive behavior therapy can help identify negative triggers and can help one to replace them with positive patterns.
Proper sleep can ensure that these hormones flush down, so it is essential to catch up regularly. Seniors with sleep troubles can go for natural aids like chamomile, lavender cannabis, and CBD or CBN to help with better sleep schedules. Although, before adding any medication to your routine make sure to research what is CBN, CBD and other sedatives well.
CBD is a therapeutic bio-active compound in a cannabis plant that can help you with stress and sleep. THC can help you relax but could also induce psychoactivity. Get in touch with an expert to know what ratio would work best for you. Alternatively, you can avoid THC altogether and go for CBD oil and tinctures.
The Bottom line
Whenever panic hits you, the first thing to do is understand and observe your body’s reaction and address it immediately. The underlying causes can be many, and so is the body’s unique response. But the bright side is, you can teach your body the art of adaptation by practicing a positive approach. Learning to cope with stress can be a slow process, but you only get better with age.
