Question:
Does anyone know how common anxiety and panic disorders are in older people?
I've heard of depression and low energy. I've gone to CaregiverZone.com to review their boards and seen articles on ways to alleviate depression and keep seniors' spirits up, but not to relieve signs of panic and anxiety. Is it uncommon in older people? Is it just their harried and overworked caregivers who suffer stress and anxiety?
Answer:
it is very common-often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s as both depression and
anxiety can reduce ones performance on memory testing. As we age we often
become quite obsessive in our thinking about our mortality and various
impending illnesses whereby anxiety shows itself in ways that may be different
then in younger people. A fear of going out not in a agorophobic avoidance is
one symptom another is somatisization and shyness-the overlap of depression and
anxiety in the elderly is often difficult but we are seeing more and more as we
take the time to really listen to them instead of medicate first ask questions
later-with older physiologies meds become a trickier part of the equation as
they are less tolerated and many other concurrent meds create complicating
issues-gerontologists are the next wave of medicine as boomers age and need
more comprehensive medical attention I do not know what the specific stats are, but I have worked in 3 different
Nursing Homes and we pass out the antipsychotics like candy. Of course with a
P-Docs order.This has been a big issue for me in my job as a geriatric nurse. I
frequently question the use of these drugs in the elderly. In my own experience
though I will say that there have been several residents who did exhibit the
classic symptoms of PD, and actually needed the meds. It makes my heart break
to see them ( I know of 4 where I work now) and to know what they are going
through. I'm sure it must be harder on the elderly to wean on to the meds
also,they take so many other meds.I can assure you, that working with the
elderly is indeed a very stressful job. You never know what to expect from
them. They change minute to minute hour to hour day to day.I'm not sure how elderly you mean. As everyone here knows I
am 71 years old, have suffered from anxiety for many years but only
recently started having panic attacks. I take no medication because
the ones they tried on me only made me depressed, caused me to have
headaches, etc.
My panic is only in the car (at least to date) and I used to be able
to drive anywhere I wanted to go - many years in LA on the freeways -
with no fear. I have no idea what caused it or if I will ever be
comfortable in an auto again. When we bought a new car we got a
pickup truck because I feel better up high where I can see.
I have no statistics as to others. I was just telling someone an hour ago that I didn't
know why I couldn't drive around these baby highways when I used to go
all over the LA freeways. I already take B12 as my doc thought it might help. So far, nothing.
But I'll keep trying. Only been on it for a short time.
I noticed that you also suffer from anxiety when driving. I also used
to LOVE to drive - went everywhere and anywhere. I used to drive and listen
to music to de-stress - talk about ironic. Then all of the sudden - I
started to have anxiety then panic attacks, even at the thought of driving.
I will drive in our small town but not on highways or even 2 lane state
routes. It is so frustrating and really interrupts life...
