Our future is under a dense cloud of pessimism, and anxiety is at an all-time high.
This information isn’t news to you.
I recently took a brain health class, and one of the aspects of optimizing brain health, especially for us older people, is to manage that widely-shared anxiety and stress. I’ve known that prolonged anxiety can create ill effects for my body’s health, including my heart and blood pressure, but never thought about its negative impact specifically on my brain.
Everyone, not just us elders, is dealing with the management of their stress and anxiety in ways that work for them, and not all those ways are healthy. No judgment here!
There is no absolute best way(s) to alleviate anxiety. We try different methods and if they don’t work, we try something else. We’re smart enough to know which anxiety-reducing methods are better for our well-being and which ones can cause more long-term deterioration of our contentedness.
It’s good to remind ourselves that:
~Anxiety messes with our brains which, in turn, creates more depression and more seeking of the quickest and often unhealthy methods to cope, like overeating, drinking, and isolating.
~No amount of anxiety changes the future.
~Staying in the here and now and thus avoiding lamenting the past or worrying about the future, helps us avoid getting overly anxious.
~YOU have the power over your anxiety – no one else.
~Self-love, regardless of how you deal with anxiety, is the kindness you deserve.
It’s worth repeating:
No amount of anxiety changes the future. Take care, everyone.
Thanks, Antonia! Love the “no amount of anxiety changes the future.” I’ll try to remember that as I stop and breathe each day. I’m finding that simply aging brings its own set of anxieties. Top that with world-wide problems and it can feel overwhelming. Like, “is this what the end of my life will look like????” We must remain strong and carry on. And be grateful for each and everything and person we have. I’m so grateful for you and your thoughtful and loving missives!
Dear Christine, thank you for your wonderful comments, and know that I’m honored you’re such a supportive friend and reader.
i looked back in my Baby Boomer journal and never did I find the place where we were warned or trained to prepare for the level of dysfunction and upset in our later years that we’re seeing today. Soldier on with me, my friend!