I guess there's nothing anyone can do, I suppose I'm just looking for a human being to say something comforting to me. It's scary to be alone especially being sick and old. I started having panic attacks a few years ago. I got rid of having them but in the 1-2 years it took me to stop them I started getting all sorts of fears, anxieties. Health anxiety, food anxiety, is this dish really clean? anxiety. Now I can't eat and it's making me sick along with a cough I can't get rid of. I'm so tired and my stomach hurts. I keep falling asleep every 1-2 hours but the coughing wakes me up in an hour or so. I hope everyone else is having a good day.
Old, alone, sick and afraid - Anxiety and Depre...
Old, alone, sick and afraid
Written by
blueslite
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61 Replies
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I'm sorry your feeling that way, it's an awful feeling...but your not alone here. And those fears are valid.... we have reasons to be fearful when life just seems to not be what we expected.
I never thought being 75 would be so bad.
♥️((((((((((((((((hug and love for you Blueslite))))))))))))))))))♥️
Thank you! 
So appreciated. ❤️
Hope your day is one of those good days! ☺️
Feeling a little better today, thanks. I need to work on exercising my legs.
I’m so glad 😃 do you know some good exercises for legs?
I have a stairmaster and a treadmill. Also going up and down stairs is very good. The best is walking but I can't walk very far.
oh that’s great! I do some floor inner and outer leg exercises and walk
I can relate to you being in my late seventies & All alone now that my Sig. Other passed away last Nov. My family lives far away, my friends are not close in distance. It DARN scary to be alone & older & especially if you get ill & are alone & have an anxiety disorder, and or depression. Heck, even if you don't have an anxiety, and or depression to start, it's not so uncommon to be Scared, fearful when older & alone. Well, I don't think I am of much help except for the fact that there are a lot of Seniors who feel like this. I have applied for Senior housing, and find like you wrote a Very long waiting list. There maybe some help if you have the proper insurance, or perhaps some help from the county. Also, contact your local Senior Center as they may be able to get you the resources you may need. I have a PC where I can shop online for groceries, or anything. Reaching out on HU is good as there are always good suggestions, and caring people on here.
Glad to hear from you, someone in like circumstances. Everyone here is loving and kind. It's good to hear I'm not alone. That's something anyway, better than saying nothing. I can't afford any insurance at all. I can't afford much. The senior center can't help with the problems I have. For shopping I have a niece and her husband who will take me once a month, begrudgingly. There's also a little neighborhood grocery store a few blocks away that I drive to. It's like the ones from the 1950s, established in 1936 and still going strong. It's good to come here. I do sometimes but don't post much. I enjoy reading the posts. Thank you.
You are Very welcome. I struggle, too, with finances. Have no children to help me (and, a lot of "children," I hear don't really want to help & feel obligated). Wonder if you could get a computer from some organization that deals with low income Seniors. With a computer, you could grocery shop online. I don't know who you would contact, but I think there might be a Senior organization you could contact.
I have a computer, a PC. But no credit card to shop online. The supplements I order online I pay for through PayPal. Many elderly are stuck with children who don't care. Yesterday my niece was nice enough to send her nephew over with some food. The mac and cheese (already made) kept me going through today. Unfortunately most of the food is stuff I'm not supposed to eat or really don't like but she has no clue what I eat or even like. She tried, it was very thoughtful of her. I don't mean to sound ungrateful, I'm not. She cleaned out her pantry, that's where most of the food came from.
Good that you have your Niece & Nephew to help.
Yes, they came through for me this time and I'm so grateful for that.
Yes, we don't want to be dependent on others, and I don't like to impose, but if they offer as your Nephew & Niece did, and hope they keep doing, yes being grateful for that! On top of my grief for my Sig. Other, I may have to move to another state as this house may be going into foreclosure. The house would then be sold (my Sig. wanted everything to go to me, but he did not sign the papers before he passed) --it's a long story. I have a lawyer who is fighting for me for house to go into probate. But, I may have to move & that all scares me. I am still filling out applications for HUD housing which is Very hard to come by as Way too many applications, and not enough housing. It's a sad story --many people going homeless in this country. I live in the USA.
I'm so sorry to hear about your problems, especially with the house and having to move. I hope things work out for you. I've applied for senior housing but the waiting list is about 2 and 1/2 to 3 years. Meanwhile I have to clear this place out and it's a total mess - so much stuff and no one to help. Yes, my niece and her husband help but she was yelling at me the other day and a few days before that. It's upsetting to me. I yell back at her,, I don't need anyone telling me what to do. She's very controlling. I posted an update to this post just FYI in case you didn't see it. I live in the US too. So many people are having major problems these days, it's really terrible.
Gee, I feel for both of us. I know how some relatives can be as they want to help; but, their attitude can really be Awful-- I have that, too! I found a volunteer at the Senior Cnt. that helps older people, and she called me, came to my house, and gave me a lot of literature for resources. She did say that they have volunteers that will help me pack & move when I need the help. Well, I do hope so as my relatives live Far away, and anyway, they sound similar to your Niece & Nephew. I did not see your update post --don't think so! Yes, it's just such a Shame that so many people are homeless & so many with major problems as you wrote. Hoping & praying things work out for the better for us.
hi sorry to read of your issues try and eat small portions just to give you a bit of strength. hopefully being here you find a few people to chat with and pass some time. here elder people have social gathering a couple of times per week wondering if things like that near were you live is possible for you.
Yes, I've been eating little bits at a time. I can't get out. to go anywhere. I have a car but I've been too sick to drive lately. There's a senior center here, I've been there before to get help with some paperwork. It's hard for me to meet people because I'm very shy.If someone talks to me I'm fine but opening my own mouth to initiate conversation seems impossible. ty.
.
glad you managed to eat a little yes that`s great about the senior centre I`m not the best conversation gabber either sometime being around others helps as well.
Thanks. Yes, if I could get there when I feel better that might help just being there. I keep eating little bits but I keep getting so hungry every 20 minutes or so. My stomach hurts.
do you know what`s causing the tummy upset is it hunger or do you have any other issues.
It's hunger. I try to eat just enough to stop the hunger pains but I get hungry again so soon.
How's your weight? If you're losing too much weight try keeping something like Ensure around. See if there's a nutritious snack you can nibble all day too.
Not losing weight. I did think of protein drinks like Ensure but I can't get out to a store. Snacks would be good too. If I can get to a store I'll get some. ty!
You're welcome.
I get mine online. So much cheaper than the stores.
I never thought of getting it online. I'll look and see what I can find. I don't have much money and shipping always gets me. Thanks!
Look around. Where I get mine, shipping is free. I don't think we're supposed to name shops, but I bet you can find something.
So far I haven't but I'm also very tired and didn't look much. Searching for stuff is very tiring to me lately.
It's okay to take your time. I don't like having to let things go when I'm not doing well, but if I push I get worse.
I think I really need the protein though. Thanks.
I'm very weak. I just woke up and can barely sit in my chair.
I hope you're right. ty.
I can't get to the store, I'm too sick to drive. I don't have TV and can't have pets. I live in a single family house, the landlady is very mean. Your cat is cute! Thanks for the pic.
I applied for senior housing last year. They told me there's a two and a half to 3 year wait. I've been trying to get rid of everything but it's hard by myself. I have a niece and her husband but they don't really want to help me. They do maybe once or twice a month with shopping. I realize they aren't responsible for me or obligated in any way.
Thanks. It's hard for me to type much. I need to lay down all the time. I'm very weak and it scares me.
I only have a PC, nothing I can lay down with.
I am sending you so much love, 💫blueslite💫.💜
Hey, maybe it’s not much comfort, but you’re not alone. We care on here even though we can’t do a lot for you. My Mom is 80 and I understand how it can be so difficult getting older. She’s recently lost some friends who have passed away, I’m worried that it’s really affecting her and I’m not much help. Stay strong. Try to do some little things. 💖
blueslite• in reply to
Thanks. Nobody knows what it's like to be old until you get here. I mean, everybody knows what it's like to feel sick or tired but when you're old it seems so different. It's true, I'm not alone in my situation. I've come here off and on for a few years now I think, I don't post much but I see the community is a caring one. It's good your mom has you. Stay close to her. My mother passed away in 2005, she was 87. I wish I had moved into her house with her, she was pretty much alone but did have relatives and visitors. Yes, I need to try and do things. Sitting here is bad for my legs.
❤️
• in reply toblueslite
I’m lucky to have her!!! I really should help her more, when I get severely depressed like I have been lately I feel very guilty that I’m not doing much for her. We both have issues with severe depression. Sometimes we’re like the blind leading the blind.
blueslite• in reply to
Yes you are lucky. I had depression back in th e'70. It was bad but i took meds, had a good doctor and it eventually went away. Unfortunately replaced over the years with other problems. I just started having a coughing fit. It's frightening, I feel like I'll choke to death.
• in reply toblueslite
I don’t know what to say. Maybe it would be a good idea to keep a glass of water near you, something like that.
blueslite• in reply to
I think I need a doctor. This is a weird kind of cough I've had for over a month. I gargle with 1/3 hydrogen peroxide and 2/3 water and I'm okay for 2 hours but then the cough comes back. It's from my throat not my chest. Never had anything like this before.
Hey, i feel that. Mentally and physically unwell and dying for human contact. I just need some reassurance. Know that you're not alone in this. And it gets better. You matter so please take care of yourself. Start physically. Make sure you if have a physical illness or a virus or something or it's anxiety or both. Be patient with yourself and take care. Im personally struggling with this. I feel so unwell and im alone that i can't even prepare food for myself and eat once a day. I am not saying im same because you are the person who knows how they are but saying you're not alone
Thank you. You sound similar to me. But I have a terrible weird cough coming from my throat and it wakes me up. My legs are a problem too, I need to exercise them. The food thing - yes, it can be bad. I'm forced to eat though because the hunger pains hurt so much. But even when I eat I get hungry again in about 20 minutes. I hope things get better for you. And true, we aren't alone. ❤️
I am so sorry for what you're dealing with. It sounds like you need to see a doctor about your health issues. Call your social services office to see if they have any assistance programs for seniors. If it's in your area, Meals on Wheels would be ideal for your situation. Our small city has LOA - Local Office on Aging, and your community might have something similar. If you live in a rural area, call your nearest city! There may be resources available you are unaware of.
Thank you. I agree, I'll need to see a doctor. I have to figure something out. The hospitals here are horrible. There is one that I prefer but it's out of the ambulance range. I think my niece wants to take me to a local urgent care place. In the past her husband has taken me to the hospital I prefer but they just drop me off and pick me up when I'm ready, I have no one to give me any moral support. As for senior services they don't have anything I can use or need. Not yet anyway. I have used their senior ride service in the wintertime but you have to give a 1 or 2 day notice and they don't go far. No Meals on Wheels here but a larger neighboring city has it. I'll have to find out if they deliver here. Not sure about the cost though. All their offices are closed weekends, I'll find out next week. Thanks for the suggestions! :)❤️
You are so welcome. Meals on Wheels can be low cost or no cost depending on where you live. Please keep us posted on how you are doing! 😍.
Dearest blueslite, I Welcome you to a caring and supportive site. Since we aren't
doctors, the best we can do is give you the moral support you need at this time.
As humans, we all need to know that we are cared about. Even a virtual communication
is better than sitting alone and feeling alone.
I do agree in that you need to see a doctor to rule out any physical issues. As for Anxiety,
we tend to mouth breathe when scared which can cause a dry cough coming from the
throat and not the lungs. The fact that you were able to stop the cough after a gargle
might mean your throat is parched. As for the weakness, that could come from not enough
nourishment in your day. The fact that you eat in bits and are hungry after 20 minutes makes
me think your stomach and brain are starving giving you these feelings/sensations.
But again, ONLY a doctor can let you know what may be going on. I wish you well and hope
that you get some answers that will turn your symptoms around. I'm happy that you are
here with us. You are no longer alone emotionally. xx
Hi Agora! I believe the cough is a medical issue. I had it before, last year, but got rid of it. I was able to get the cough syrup right away. This year I had to wait a couple of weeks and I think maybe that has something to do with it not working as well, you need to treat things immediately or sometimes it's too late. I drink lots of water all day long, no dryness there. I believe the peroxide in the gargle is attacking whatever it is but it only lasts for 2 hours. I can gargle every 2 hours but no sooner than that. My stomach feels better today, my niece sent over some mac and cheese last night so I've been eating that and the hunger pains are gone. I agree, stomach and brain are starving. Next to the cough my legs are a big concern. Because I've been sleeping so much the edema is back and I can feel the PAD is getting worse. I need to exercise but sleeping so much and being weak has prevented it for too long. The support and caring here are wonderful to have. It's very good to hear from you! Thanks. ❤️
I asked my niece to take me to the hospital.
sending you remote healing energies. May all be well
Our mind is a very powerful weapon. Our thoughts influence extremely on our health. Learning to adjust to if any change and not overwhelming yourself. Reminds yourself to feel the emotions however absolutely make sure you can control how you react to the situation. It’s always helpful to reach out to some rather than balling emotions. Best of wishes.
Erica😃
Thank you.
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