Coping strategies

[Superzob]

As I get older, I find it difficult to cope with even minor problems even though, historically, I would have had little difficulty with them. Most of them resolve with time, but I still seem to stress out when the next one comes along. Is this simply an age issue and is there something I can do about it?

[Ronig1234]

do you have a history of anxiety ? If no , maybe it could be you have more time now on your hands and more time to worry when in the past you didn’t? My kids are teenagers now who drive and I’m not “ needed as much “ . It leaves a lot of time for me to obsess and worry about things I normally wouldn’t . Not sure if this helps but I hope you feel better soon !

[Superzob in reply to Ronig1234]

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I was diagnosed with anxiety 50 years ago, and take propranolol to help, so it’s obviously in my nature to be anxious, but I’ve managed to cope quite well over the years. It just seems that over the last year or so, relatively trivial things seem to throw me for no obvious reason and I sometimes feel overwhelmed. I know that serotonin levels drop as you age and I wonder whether that has anything to do with it, but I don’t get on withSSRIs and other antidepressants/anxiolytics so will have to find some other way to compensate

[MistyBlue53 in reply to Superzob]

Sometimes I think that when our children don't need us as much, we see them alot less. So we need to make new friends, have fun and do things. I feel the same way as you. Spare time alone isn't good.

[Cat33]

I have found that keeping a diary is a big help If I write down exactly how I'm feeling I find that worry eases as the days go by and then I look back and think why did I ever get so worked up about it

I over think all the time and it really helps me

All the best