Depressed over feeling old

[EDW39A]

Well I am 65, and I have learned how not feel old. I eat a healthy low fat diet, and I do some sort of excercise every day. Not strenuous, even a walk around the nieghborhood can be mood lifting on a beautiful day. One thing I also do is constantly set goalsand work towards them. Even if it is only saving up $25 to go to the local beauty college to get a massage. You mention taking care of others..what about you? If the people you take care of could do for themselves, they must! You tell them you need help with things and that each have to pull their own weight. You need some relief! God bless you and go for it!

Love this post reply!   I do a ten minute workout every morning, going to add an "8 Minute" workout to it. (My evening I try to do a workout five days a week.) I drink some fresh cool water first thing each morning. So simple but it makes my day. Samrhett2, looks like "talk" (post) therapy to me, and some good stuff!  

[cutiepie9447]

Come join my family...my 50 yr old dad can out-party me!

[Mykat]

Thanks to everyone for your positive responses.  Went to the doctor this week and he put me on thyroid medicine, so that could be one reason I was feeling so old.  Also, I am weary from caring for my invalid mother for over five years.  Unless you have done that type of care, I don't think you can fully appreciate what my day consists of and if you don't have a strong stomach I would not even attempt to explain it.

It is true, I can make my own choices.  I could tell my 80 year old dad, "sorry, dad, you are on your own.  Take care of mom 24/7, cause it is burning me out too bad."  I could do that but I won't.  I will always put my dad ahead of myself no matter what it does to me.  He did it for me for many years.  I do it for him, not her. 

I guess because I have been her doormat all my life, I feel that I am just a doormat to everyone else.  Now, to change my thinking is the hard part.  Thanks to everyone who responded.  It sure is cheaper than therapy.

I helped my mother with my grandmother during the last year of her life so I have a pretty good understanding of what is involved in the day to day care of someone unable to care for themselves. I know how difficult one year was...I couldn't imagine going through 5 years of that.  Do you have anyone that can give you and your dad a break? Just being a care giver without the added stress of your situation is quite an undertaking and enough to make anyone feel tired and run down.  You both need to take some time away too for your own health and well being.  

[davidh121]

I have been feeling very bogged down. I feel like ever since I past 30 years ago my body just started to fall apart. There is health issues, stress at work, finances, etc. When other people around you also feel exhausted this also takes the life out of a person.

[de3ik]

I just wondered if everyone when they get my age feel depressed over being old.  I am 50 and lately I find myself feeling like fun is only for young people.  It seems like all I do is go through the motions of life to try to take care of others in my family.  I have been thinking about when I was younger and wishing I was young again.  I feel like after you get older all there is is work and worry and that unless you are young and attractive you just blend into the woodwork and don't really matter anymore.

Please stay encouraged friend.  Your best years can still be in front of you. Just try to focus on the good and positive things you have going for you in your life and capitalize on those things. Try to improve the areas in your life that are lacking and that which you can't improve, if you know God believe him to help you in those areas. Maybe you are overwhelmed with your family and need a break. Try to take some breaks, even small ones like a walk or drive from time to time just to get away from it all. If your family really loves you they will understand and appreciate that you just need some time to recharge your batteries. And remember it's not how others view your looks. It's how you view yourself. Just know you are beautiful and attractive, both inside and out. Don't let anyone make you feel like you are any less than the wonderfully made being God created you to be.

I hope this helps, let me know if does

de3ik

[bretay]

i don't really think too much about my age.I am 50 and will be 51 come the 13th.I sometimes feel alot older than what I am.thanks to arthritis in my back,hips,knee,ankles and hands.But other than that I don't really think about it too much.I am just glad to see another day

[samrhett2]

I just wondered if everyone when they get my age feel depressed over being old.  I am 50 and lately I find myself feeling like fun is only for young people.  It seems like all I do is go through the motions of life to try to take care of others in my family.  I have been thinking about when I was younger and wishing I was young again.  I feel like after you get older all there is is work and worry and that unless you are young and attractive you just blend into the woodwork and don't really matter anymore.

Please stay encouraged friend.  Your best years can still be in front of you. Just try to focus on the good and positive things you have going for you in your life and capitalize on those things. Try to improve the areas in your life that are lacking and that which you can't improve, if you know God believe him to help you in those areas. Maybe you are overwhelmed with your family and need a break. Try to take some breaks, even small ones like a walk or drive from time to time just to get away from it all. If your family really loves you they will understand and appreciate that you just need some time to recharge your batteries. And remember it's not how others view your looks. It's how you view yourself. Just know you are beautiful and attractive, both inside and out. Don't let anyone make you feel like you are any less than the wonderfully made being God created you to be.

I hope this helps, let me know if does

de3ik

Thanks to you and the others who offered encouragement.  One thing the last five years have finally made me understand is how disfunctional my family really was (is).  Funny thing is....I always thought my family was the model family.  My mom is the puppetmaster.  She pulls the strings and tells us all what we are to do and we do it.  Why?  Cause if we don't she makes our lives miserable.  My dad, who is otherwise a wonderful man, allowed it and therefore created a monster.  None of us ever live up to mom's expectations.  We never do it right because it isn't the "way she would have done it."  I grew up never feeling good enough and I guess I still feel that way.  The only comfort is that now I understand why.  I could go through therapy and try to break away, but really at this late date, isn't it just better to suffer through and help my dad as best I can?  When they are gone I can deal with healing my self esteem.  So, I am in a bad spot, but I know neither of them is going to change or go to therapy, so unless I just walk away, I am kind of stuck.

Thanks again for the encouragement.  I am up at 4 am because my entire upper body is aching.  Not sure what is wrong with me, but apparently the thyroid meds are not going to fix it.  Scared I have something bad like MS, cause my muscles or bones or something ache so bad.   I told the doctor about it but he said to see if it went away and to come back after the first of the year.  Not sure I can wait that long.

[CharmedPhoenix]

I just turned 55 and I don't feel old.  Age is a state of mind.  There are lots of things you can do to revitalize yourself.  Take a little time, just a few minutes even, to figure out what would make you feel younger, what you miss and take little steps to incorporate these things into your life.

[CHANEYLAKEGIRL]

I think of everyday as a gift, I've had almost as many gifts as you.  I was told once that wrinkles come from smiling and laughing - bring on the wrinkles!     I do a fair amount of gray hair, I gave up coloring it a while ago. This is me, this is how I come. I do not have to look a certain way for society or anyone else. I have learned to be confortable in my own skin.  Look for the positive things in life whenever possible. Wishing you the best.

[oldbuddy]

I know that none of us can know how you feel without being in your place, but at 74 I don't think much about how old I am when I can apply that energy to the next new adventure I can pursue. Heck I'm finally old enough to play Santa Clause!

 

[ladysurvivor]

I am not depresed about getting older. It is a process in our life and anything can change that. My thinking is that if you act old then you will become old. Staying active is the key. My problem isn't in getting older but in not achieving those things that I had wanted to do before I got to a certain age.

[keauhou]

Find a gym that has lots of fifty something clients because you will be surrounded by people that are vibrant and strong. It is truly a state of mind and your menopausal hormones kicking in are not helping you feel great right now! It can be your best decade ever but exercise is key. I'm in my late fifties and always take some "me" time everyday.

[vmcutshall]

I am past fifty and I don't feel depressed because of being old. I think life is more fun now than when I was young.

[Cuppycake]

I just wondered if everyone when they get my age feel depressed over being old.  I am 50 and lately I find myself feeling like fun is only for young people.  It seems like all I do is go through the motions of life to try to take care of others in my family.  I have been thinking about when I was younger and wishing I was young again.  I feel like after you get older all there is is work and worry and that unless you are young and attractive you just blend into the woodwork and don't really matter anymore.

Over all happiness is a choice and clearly you have decided not to be happy.

[plennis]

You have to just get a more positive attitude.  You HAVE to find someone who can give you guys a break sometimes.   Be kind with her, then she will wonder what you are really up too!  (J/K)     Also, look at the alternative, you get older or you die.   In my mind I am still 25, but I have children that are in their 30's.  I have a son who was a professional baseball player who just retired, now that is weird when your children retire.   If some things are easier to do a certain way, do them that way and she will get use to it.  You have to do what is going to be the easiest for you.   AND YOU HAVE TO QUIT FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF......MAKE THE BEST OF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES.   Good luck.    My Dad who still gets up and goes to work every day and my Mom who gets up and makes his lunch say  "Old age ain't for sissies!"