Maintaining Balanced Mental Health During Middle Age and Beyond

As you become older, you shouldn’t shrug off your mental health. In fact, as you grow older, your mental health can be impacted. These ideas might help.

Many changes come with age. You’re seeing less energy during the day, a lack of muscle and an increase in weight and possibly a fading or decaying sex life. All of these can lead to depression and anxiety. In fact, depression and anxiety are among the most common mental health struggles that older adults face. You can still combat them and receive help to maintain mental wellness.

Here are a few ideas to try:

Try New Things

You can often feel as though you are sitting stagnate when you become older. Your body is less active and you want to do fewer things. You may even feel as though you’re stuck in the same cycle and performing the same habits. The solution is to change those habits. It may be a little nerve-racking first. You may even feel as though you shouldn’t try new things because of your age. The exact opposite is true.

Staying mentally well means investing in life. Have you ever tried a new sport or a new restaurant? Perhaps you’ve even learned a new hobby, like painting or paintball? You shouldn’t let your age discourage you from new experiences. New adventures, new journeys and new people are all aspects that can bolster your mental wellness.

Travel

Sometimes melancholy, depression or anxiety can be brought on because of a feeling of suffocation. You’ve worked in the same place for years, only traveled around in-state and longed to experience other places. Then take a few days off and travel somewhere far away.

Experiencing a different culture and being part of that new culture can help you combat depression and anxiety. For one, you’re learning new things. Learning is a great way to stay invested in life and to feel better about yourself. It helps you develop and grow as an individual. This is compounded when you learn about new cultures.

You develop an ability to see the world from a different perspective. It can also help you become more grateful for the life that you already have. Exploring new countries that are far from home can provide you with experiences and adventures that you simply can’t receive anywhere else.

Receive Medical Help for Mental Health

In some instances your feelings of depression and anxiety can be tied to a biological problem. Menopause and andropause, for example, can sometimes lead individuals to feeling depressed about how they look or feel. Treating the underlying problem can have changes in the body that then impact your mental health.
For example, when it comes to menopause and andropause the problem is primarily hormonal. With a hormone imbalance, the body is unable to do things as well as it did before. For example, the metabolism slows down and becomes inefficient. Being treated for a hormone imbalance can correct that issue. Your metabolism can be kickstarted, and you can feel as though you have more energy. It also helps keep extra weight off and maintain your muscle mass.

If you were already prone to depression or anxiety, then you might also benefit from receiving medications that are used to treat those conditions. Many have been able to live a regulated life that is no longer controlled by their depression or anxiety.

Talking to a Therapist

Sometimes you just need to talk about your feelings to someone who isn’t your spouse, partner or friend. Therapists can be a great help to those who are trying to figure out their own reasons for feeling depressed or anxious. It can be difficult to get out of your own head. A therapist can provide an outside perspective and shed light on things that you might not have considered before.

When you have something crushing down on your chest, then therapists are the ones to talk to. They can also provide you with new ideas for tackling your mental health and remaining balanced.