Getting Old and
Hello. New member here. Would like to talk with others who are, or have, experienced depression as they grew older, say past their 50's and beyond. This has been a 'slow burn' the last couple of years with me, but it seems to be on the increase and occupying more of my thoughts and feelings.
@Laramie
hey there! I have moved your thread to the Life Stages section under the connect with people in their 50s
I was wondering does anyone else feel like the have lived a bunch of different lives? It seems like there are so many different people that live inside me and I can't seem to roll them all into one. Lately I get so confused like there is this fog that shrouds my since of self. There was this girl when I was young that I want to be again I lost her some how and cant't find her she was funny a little bit cocky smart confident and friendly. Wondering does anyone else know what I'm talking about?
@Nowhour
oh yes....like a lot of seasons...lots of stages of learning. Now I realize I will never stop learning. Learning about people, myself, situations you got into that I cant believe I ever put up with. As a teenage girl, I thot I was so tough and rebellious- it was an amazing feeling. Now, I see, Ive either compromised at times over these 50 years or I have learned to pick my battles. I now prefer simple as possible in every way lol. Getting older is ...different & very interesting. The ride is worth it
@cyanOwl3282 it sounds like all the different stages have all been rolled into one life long experience which is amazing but for me there all separate and now I'm lost and don't know who to be or what to do it's unnerving. And a bit scary just want the next stage to come so I can be okay again.
@Nowhour
Yes I do feel ways you describe, and Im sorry to hear that you are feeling discomfort. Life stages can be scary and filled with so much uncertainty.
Hi everyone,
Focusing on aging and depression is a key topic for me now. I have noticed that depression has been more present as I age, plus Ive become more self-aware which sometimes means that it may be the same familiar fog, that I didnt have a name for when I was younger .
In the same way I have to work harder to get results from exercise, I have to work harder, (have better self-care) to stay ahead of depression.
This is especially hard around the holidays, when Im distracted and motivation is lacking. Writing about this helps me see I need to recommit to self-care each day.
@Seven8Nine What are some of the things you do for self care?
It's human nature I guess that we think of ourselves and life as being one thing forever, no changes. Thats all life is. Its not reaching a plateau its a river. And the secret of life is learning to swim, to deal with what life throws at you. I've learned that one the hard way lol. We also see society change radically around us...altho we may not understand whats going on. The ideas and values we hold dear and believe to be true get replaced by things that alarm us. For me, I see so much today that's leading to a fall in this society. We also deal with being way undervalued. Society seems to no longer value experience and wisdom. It's all about the kids, and thanks to Hollywodd and the big corporations selling them for big bucks, youth is empowered.
All that to say the paradign is shifting rapidly and its easy to get lost and dismayed. Our lives change and we have to change with it. Don't surrender what you believe to be right and true. But be open and understanding. Try new things. One sad product of age as i've found out is we lose the playfull wonder we had as a child and replace it with the confining rules of adulthood. You have to know the rules before you know which ones to break. Life should be all rules and being so serious all the time. be sure to have fun.
@Tachi
You say you learned it the hard way can you tell what it was? How you did it? Because I am struggling with letting it just happen; and then being okay with it. Maybe your story will give me way of looking at things that I haven't already considered. It doesn't even have to be your story it can be any story.