Emotional Health Column
By Dr. Holly Holmes-Meredith, D. Min., MFT, Board Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist
and Bill Yarborough, CHT and Certified EFT Practitioner
If you are a senior, have you found aging challenges more difficult during the Covid-19 pandemic? Or do you have a senior family member or friend experiencing such challenges?
Aging can be trying in normal times. Mobility and health hardships arise for many—as do emotional issues such as ageism. In July, HealthDay reported the results of the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging. The poll found that 82 percent of respondents regularly experienced forms of ageism in their daily lives, including jokes about aging or comments that older adults are unattractive or undesirable. In addition, 36 percent of respondents internalized ageism, agreeing that feeling lonely, depressed, or worried is a part of growing old.
The pandemic has accentuated these feelings for some, and current trends indicate the winter months will be the more risky before the spring and wide availability of Covid-19 vaccines arrive. Extra precautions are recommended for seniors to avoid indoor contact with people beyond their immediate household, and many children and grandchildren will be reluctant to put seniors at risk. Seniors could experience, perhaps for the first time, a lonely Christmas and New Year’s following an isolated Thanksgiving and pandemic fatigue dating back to March.
There are a variety of strategies to help compensate from physical separation during the holidays. Zoom, FaceTime, or telephone chats with family and friends or watching church services, along with your favorite holiday TV shows are just two examples.
But the holidays and winter months could also be a time to develop aging skills that can fortify you beyond the pandemic. There was good news in the University of Michigan’s aging poll. Sixty-seven percent of seniors said that as they’ve grown older, their feelings regarding aging have become more positive, and 65 percent said their life is better than expected.
So what steps you can take to improve your approach toward aging? During these more isolated days, you could reflect on life more deeply. Consider looking back on your experiences for the lessons you’ve learned, some of which could be fodder for life-style changes.
For example, you may have often resisted change, and now in your senior years, believe times are passing you by, creating frustration and a sense of separation. New technologies, culture change, and the interests of younger generations may seem foreign.
The pandemic could be an ideal time to accept change as a natural part of life and explore things you’ve resisted. Many seniors have become more tech savvy, so they can maintain their social connections virtually, particularly as outdoor options fade with colder weather. If you have not done so, you may discover it’s easier to learn new skills than you thought. Instructions on how to use features on Zoom, FaceTime, and a host of other media simply require googling online or searching YouTube. For instance, if you google “how to use Zoom” a variety of videos will pop up providing instruction.
Besides learning new technology, you can explore ways to connect with younger generations. During the pandemic all generations are struggling, such as working parents who have children at home doing their schoolwork virtually. Maybe your family or another family you know needs tutors to help their kids. We know a senior who tutors her grandkids every week. Such tutoring can be performed safely online and could develop lasting bonds. In return, your pupils can teach you new technologies and share the interests of their generation.
Other virtual volunteer possibilities include reading to someone in covalence, helping developmentally challenged kids, and countless others ways to help out online. A key benefit of lending a helping hand is that it may lessen worries regarding your own circumstances.
If daily exercise has not been a part of your life or colder weather and shuttered gyms have eliminated your exercise routines, explore online videos, including weights, stretching, yoga, and Tai Chi. For instance, googling “free stretching exercises for seniors” will bring up a variety of instructional videos. Becoming more sedentary as you age is not a good strategy for your physical and emotional health.
The senior years are sometimes called the wisdom years, and there are many opportunities to learn and explore. There are a plethora of virtual courses available, such as The Great Courses Plus. Or, if you miss travel, then pursue the multitude of virtual travel options on the internet.
If you find it too difficult to endure the holiday blues and/or the emotional challenges of aging, seeking professional help from a qualified practitioner can help. Many practitioners are available online or in person using a variety of therapeutic techniques to assist you. Teaching professionals often have interns who charge minimal amounts.
If you have questions or comments, please reach out to us via the contact information on our websites: Holly@hypnotherapytraining.com or Bill@billyarborough.com.