Stress effects on seniors are physical and mental and they are not alone. According to the American Psychological Association report, “Stress in America 2023: A Nation Recovering from Collective Trauma” the stress from the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with ongoing problems like inflation, racial conflict, wars, and climate-related disasters, you may be suffering from post-pandemic trauma, which the report is impacting our physical and mental health and well-being. Understanding these impacts is key for seniors to feel better and keep stress in check.
What is stress?
Stress is the body’s natural response to stressors and according to the my.clevelandclinic.org article, “Stress,” which helps us deal with challenges in life. Experts categorize stress as:
- Acute stress: short-term stress (both good and bad).
- Episodic acute stress: the regular occurrence of acute stress.
- Chronic stress: long-term stress.
Good stress versus bad stress for Seniors
As noted above, not all stress is bad for us, there is good stress (aka eustress) too. As noted in the psychologytoday.com article, “What Makes Stress “Good” or “Bad”?” while intense stress is bad, milder stress can be beneficial. For example, the good feelings we get from accomplishing something difficult are the result of the brain releasing the hormone endorphin which boosts happiness and well-being.
To best understand how stress works, the article describes stress levels as an inverted bell curve where zero stress aligns with boredom, milder stress is motivating, and extreme stress brings about feelings of unhappiness, anxiety, and even paralysis. Thus mild stress is the most beneficial but varies from person to person and situation to situation.
Bad Stress: The Physical Effects on Seniors
Stress affects everyone but not always in the same ways. Physically, stress manifests in a variety of common symptoms, which the mayoclinic.org article, “Stress symptoms: Effects on your body and behavior,” notes include headache, muscle tension and pain, chest pain, fatigue, change in sex drive, stomach upset, problems sleeping, and a weaker immune system. In turn, these physical effects impact both mood and behavior potentially prompting other health problems.
Over the long term, stress left unchecked can raise blood pressure, and increase the risk of stroke, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.
Bad Stress: The Mental Effects on Seniors
Frequent and long-term stressors can also have considerable effects on mental health. According to the webmd.com article, “What to Know About Stress and How It Affects Your Mental Health,” these effects include feelings of hopelessness and of being overwhelmed, anxiety, low self-confidence, panic attacks, mood swings, restlessness, and the inability to make decisions. When these symptoms persist it can make everyday life a challenge and can result in problems at work and home.
Of particular importance to older adults is the significant impact stress can have on memory. The psychcentral.com article, “How Stress Affects Your Memory” notes that while short-term stress can improve focus and attention, long-term stress can lead to elevated levels of stress hormones can shrink the hippocampus of the brain, where short- and long-term memory and memory consolidation occur. In fact, the hippocampus is one of the first areas of the brain to be damaged in people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia.
4 Stress Management Tips for Seniors
Although it’s not possible to rid ourselves of all the stressors in life, there are many ways to minimize how stress affects our physical and mental health.
- Pinpoint stressors: Stressors come from all around and can include people, places, events, activities, and even inside our heads. The trick is to practice avoidance when possible or mitigate the impacts by changing how you interact with or approach them. Get expert tips in the apa.org article, “11 healthy ways to handle life’s stressors.”
- Find “me” time: One big stressor comes from always doing for others without regard for self-care. Mothers know this as do those who find it hard to “just say no.” While it is gratifying to be helpful, never having time for oneself can contribute to stress. Instead, start a hobby, join a club, or try one of the options described in the verywellmind.com article, “5 Types of Self-Care for Every Area of Your Life.”
- Relax: Just taking a deep breath and relaxing can help minimize stress. As described in the mayoclinic.org article, “Relaxation techniques: Try these steps to lower stress,” the benefits include lower blood pressure, better sleep, better moods, lower blood sugar, and more.
- Meditate: Get away from stressors through meditation which the health.harvard.edu article, “What meditation can do for your mind, mood, and health,” can reduce stress, pain and depression, and improve health overall.
For more information about Countryside, please call Margaret Nagel at (517) 206-5000 or download our brochure to learn about our care levels, cost, and amenities.
