Why are we so afraid of aging
People fear getting older because they are afraid of losing their independence, declining health, and mainly of losing their daily routines in life. They begin to fear they may have to depend on someone to take care of them, fear being put in an assisted living facility, and their mental and physical well-being declines.
Some fear they will begin to be forgetful about things. They begin to wonder if they will get dementia or Alzheimer's. We know we are getting older; everyone is, but sometimes it can be scary for some rather than old. Some people may have accepted when they get old things may happen and just want to live day to day.
Aging is also a reminder that sometime later in life we all die. We do not have a little ticket like at a bakery or deli section waiting to be called; in the end, we all will pass away. This is when some will become depressed or have anxiety.
Some people may begin to worry about as they grow older: can they financially be able to keep living in a home or apartment without running out of money? Can they afford to still pay rent, buy food, drive a car, and afford health insurance?
Many begin to worry about outliving their friends or family members. We all at some point will begin to worry about this and need to prepare ourselves for when it does happen, when we do get older and feel alone.
The term "Gerascophobia" is the fear of aging. This stems from the anxiety we will have. People begin to see psychologists or a therapist later in life to prepare themselves for the fear of growing older. We seek support in getting prepared for it. We may ask our children for help; no child wants their parents to feel alone. (I surely do not. My son has told me when I get older he wants me to move in so he can care for me like I did for him.
5 steps of aging health:
Get social: join a senior citizen community for something you like to do to make friends and be supportive to others.
Exercise: keeping a fit body and mind will keep you knowing what needs to be done in life. Daily walks with neighbors, chair exercises for those who can not go to the gym
Eating healthy: being healthier so you are around longer helps you maintain a positive well-being.
Keep up regular doctor appointments: keep up on annual physicals with your doctor. Keep up on your mental and physical well-being.
Stay curious: keep up-to-date on aging and what is needed for when you grow older. (I belong to AARP and get monthly magazines about growing older and what to do, healthy advice, and financial help for seniors).
How can we take care of ourselves as we grow older?
What is one thing that may worry you about getting old?
Taglist 2/1/2026
@00WHY00 @1Marg1 @24963534 @24Help1 @4Rainbow42 @5catsandme @7EggsADay @8Khaleesi8 @allen99 @ArinDee @adventurousFarm8706 @Actuallynobody017 @adaptableOcean4193 @adventurousBranch3786 @adventurousSugar1991 @affableowl5126 @affectionateCat9553 @affectionatePear7889 @agreeablestrawberries1285 @ahaller @ahds2k @ahel58 @akbj @AKmarshmallow @AkiraDawn @Aksabode @alan254 @alanapiana1970 @alleywood13 @amanda @ambitiousNectarine1482 @Amelia763 @Amelia2324 @amiablePeace77 @amiableTortoise2797 @AmiYumi @amusingcranberry1537 @AmusingJet302 @anderly @andy @Angelface50 @AnnieIsMe @aquaCake3636 @ARIBA5 @Artemis13579 @AshcloudMac @Aspace4u @Audy916 @Awesomesummer1628 @ayeyaeyaaaaaaaa @azureAcres1605 @azureblueheron @azuladragon34 @Baby1120 @ballooningSloth @BaltimoreSpring @bamafan96 @Barltik2065 @Beanno @beautifulsoul @becausepuppies @Beck @becknit @beachyone @believing777 @berta0322 @Bestmaple2045 @bestplum1189 @betheileen @better2Bbrave @beverlianne @bigalt21 @Billyjoe9717 @bimmernizer @BirdsWhoWrite @bisketties @bklnstar @BlackApple6420 @BLSD2021 @bluebell34 @BlueEyes1819 @blueOrange6725 @BlueSky0708 @Blueskye24 @Bluesky1964 @bluevelvet3 @Blugreg @Bodhichicka @bogartfan @bouncyBeach42 @BookishWendy @bouncyVoice4149 @breezyoctopus @brightChestnut3152 @brightShip8753 @BrightSugar1923 @brightZebra 8925 @bubblePomegranate7179 @Bumblebee41 @BurdensDown @cafelatte46 @cal1860 @CaliforniaViv @calmblueocean @calmVase7032 @Cammiecat @CandyBubblegumSprinkles @carefreeheart57 @CarefulGrapes590 @carefulsailboat231 @carelady @caringone1004 @CaringPanda45 @caringPumpkin64 @CaringSharon @CaringSoftly @CaringSub @carscarey @casey90 @cathy @catlady @catmandu @caughtinthemiddle @Cazzy8752 @Cheerie @chickadee123 @Chro411924 @CHT @CintaBali @classylady521 @Cliffg747 @Clio9876 @coach411 @Communicativepenny8383 @compassionteHuman5626 @CompassionateLand2815 @Confused7461 @conscientiousCoconut8216 @convivialCake8989 @ConvivialFriend9402 @Cookiecrumbles7079 @coolvibes @CoriF @courageousCoconut7282 @CourageousDaisy1111 @courageousLemon182 @CourageousSpring2022 @courteousLime9432 @Creamyyy @CreativeYard1702 @ crimsonRaspberries1486 @crimsonShade6782 @CtownMimi @ctw1237 @Cubby2020 @curiousbutterfly77 @currentwise @cyanBirch4288 @CyclingThroughLife @Damaris62 @DanaMH @DancingJoy811 @dapperPond2037 @Dave94305 @daydreammemories @debbiehun @decisivetangerine2856 @decisiveBanana1981 @decisiveHuman7373 @DDPaintsStuff @DeeGold @DELTA0112 @Den2542 @determinedNectarine9383 @dillon8524 @DinaElwy @diofono @diplomaticoak9588 @discreetMelon5938 @discreettriangle87 @DiscretOcean7936 @doginashirt @dolphinlver @Doodles7 @duces @ecstaticlght @einarsgirl @elderfarm @Electric100 @ElizabethGiovi @EmbStitcher33 @empathicForest15 @Emptynest2020 @emotional232023 @enigmaticOcean8813 @endearingLion70 @Enthusiasticnest1089 @equinox56 @eternalHero77 @Eva66 @Every1ahome @ExDesertScapegoat @exuberantAvocado5095 @fairmindedStrawberries7429 @Faithfulapple2400 @faithlove1111 @Favor2020 @favour @fearlessSouth4632 @FlowerLily23 @FoolsSelf @forcefulFriend4768 @forcefulStrings1005 @forcefulWriter32 @forko23 @Freeskier @FriendlyAnju777 @friendly10 @friendlyCat50 @fromthetent81 @frothyMagic6772 @FusionX33 @GabbyGee @Gabriellegahnsuksah @GabrielThinker @Gale1032 @galfromaway @gardenyarn @generousBalloon786 @gentleEast4230 @gentleLand5245 @GiftedEmpath3 @goldilocks1041 @goodmelon8247 @goodYard1477 @goodStrawberries7059 @GothamRam @gracefulDay3692 @GrammatoBoys @Grandma1 @GrandmaLolly @Gramma2FnM @Grammy23 @Grammy23 @Gr8ful1974 @Greenpear036 @greenSummer1236 @gregariousKiwi9594 @gregariousZebra21 @guitarman087 @Gwen1963 @GypsyRed @HaloCompany88 @hoppa12 @HealingGriz @Heather2020 @helloBike4402 @hellopusher @helloTalker8798 @honestPeach5447 @Hotaru419 @hounddog2021 @HY00 @iamroni @icanremember @icedcoffee211109 @IHDW1982 @ihtak @impartialDrum1848 @incredibleHeart72 @impartialRaspberries1389 @indigolilly1500 @indigoFriend7851 @indigoMoon1246 @innerLove @intelligentSail5966 @introvertedextrovert2122 @intuitiveBunny8426 @intuitiveFriend1097 @Ivy229 @Irene2552 @IWuzADuck @JackKost @jackrock @japanesegardengirl @jazzgtr @Jim @Jinx012014 @jlmouranet @jillwings7@JolivetteListens @JoniGirl @Judecat42W1370 @junem @justbecause @Justbreathingx9 @JustExisting1027 @JustMe1225 @justpassingthrough10 @K8tjee @kala @karyn0601 @Katbtrying552 @Kathy1212 @kathy3667 @Kavajava @kcollier6517 @Kevin0291 @kickiree @kickan75 @Kimberley555 @KindblueEyes @kindCloud141 @Kira09 @kit4228 @kitty2018 @kittycat15 @klemen @koyaanisqatse8 @Kurt789 @LabeledBPD @LadySnowcat @LakeGirl819 @LalaBee123 @Lara @lateasusual @Lauren63 @LavenderDaily @lesjon @lelahni @Lifer @lightBalsam5585 @LightSoul108 @lilaj3796 @LimegreenNorth1124 @LindaWinNJ @lisamac724 @ListeningKaty @livefreely04 @LivingLovingLifeRecovery @livingwithbpdx2 @lledmonds1969 @Lolowise475 @lonea @Lonelybeth @LoneShade @lookingforpeace @lookoutOwl8 @LostanLonely @Lostinlove50 @love @Love2Boat65 @LovecraftianHorror @Lovelight1211 @lovingTangerine2547 @LoveResearcher @lrsmith9636 @LucianX @luv2shop @mabelanne20 @madhu @Maebyb@Maka10 @mamamel @mamapants @MariaLands @Marspock @meforexample @Melayla @Melissa22320 @Mellieme l1971 @mellisendis @metta2u @mettagirl @MidwesternCalmSeeker @Mindy @ministermichelle @Mishka1599 @MissPen @Mla69 @mm2022 @modestOcean7984 @modestwatermelon2938 @moi2016 @mommabear0562 @MondoRalph @Mooboxer @mooboxer @moocher @moodymantis13 @Moonlight52 @morecake @Motherofcats1955 @MrKindness @MsVee2021 @MusicCandy @Musicman50 @musicwithbrass @mutter3 @myer @MysticSoul88 @Nanci @navyAcai7149 @neatandtidy72 @neverendingtime23 @NightListener3262 @nippycat @NotAllHere713 @No1Angel68 @nobodyimportantmn @Nogift @NormaAnne @Oddball76779 @oel @OffMyTrack @okeyyyy @OliveCamp8456 @omez125 @OmWeAreOne @Open12 @OptimisticAcres4817 @optimisticRaspberries5247 @outofspace7 @PatienceImpatiens @PaytonGlover @Peace1221 @peaceandlove65 @peachy53 @PepperBunny @pgreen6840 @phantomsmilesphilosophicalacai7803 @PitbullMom9 @philosophicalAcres8914 @philosophicalKiwi4956 @pianocat @PigfaceMcGee513 @placidplum3193 @placidNorth5654 @pluckystrings4696 @plumPapaya7147 @plumSkies6526 @politePear3867 @positiveriver9935 @Positron2 @potatoxcrispztrish @powerfulOak2587 @powerfulMaple1852 @practicalbalsam @PracticalCat2637 @proactiveCup703 @Proudme @Puddinpen @PurpledPeach @purpleNorth4637 @purplefan5510 @purplepansies8591 @purpletangerine87 @purpletree4652 @PurpleWater74 @pxidis @Qooo @quietbeach575 @purpleCircle8013 @quietFlower25 @QuietLightning @quietSail6485 @quietStrawberries9260 @Ran3707 @RainbowRosie @rationalWater7635 @RavingTiger @readytolisten7799 @RebelliousMirror @redOrange9587@redCococnut7440 @redPenny @Redpeppers @Redrhapsody @reliableHickory3670 @reliablemoon26 @reliablemoon6376 @repen13 @ReservedHickory86 @reservedOwl321 @Resourceful2021 @rhoda @richyShiny39 @RideaRainbow @River416 @Roger57 @RogueOne1983 @Rose1324 @Ross63 @roxymar @ruffneckred @RunningMachine @Ruthanny1243 @sabeyesofblue3535 @sailinsunshine @SallyMoore @sallymander36 @samSympa3 @Sandidegeer @SarahKind @sb805 @ScarletLand3247 @ScarletPear1945 @SeaLady @Seasidelady61 @secretMap2091 @Sedtzl1 @seeker1898 @SeekerSher @seekinghappy55 @SelfCareMatters @selfdisciplinedPenny281 @seniorlady @sensibleBunny2134 @sensiblePal7535 @ShadowFaerie @Shycat542 @shycranberry2308 @sillyrabbit7 @SimplyCompassionate @sincereGrapefruit4682 @sincerelandsincereOak6832 @SKHK @SkillfullMeans @Skyglider @SleeplessVet @SloRollin62 @smead85 @Smilintru67 @smokescrunch @sngrlittle @snugglyLight2001 @sonerii @soothingArrow47 @sophiaaiello @SoulfulCat22 @soulsings @spielmanjr @spongbobishappy @SpreadAloha @StartExploring @stayingsafe @SteampunkOkc @stilltrying126 @sthompso @StormyTimes @straightforwardKiwi7811 @stressBear @strugglingtocope99 @stampy853 @StillSurvivingThriving @Sue1111 @Sue88 @sunnyplum5193 @SunnySpruce3523 @sunnyZebra2336 @Sunshine4691 @SunShineAlwaysGrateful @SusyKaploosy @SuzieQ1 @swammi01 @SweetSami @swim215 @swinston222 @swordpsalm @sympatheticCat267 @Tabbysflower @Tailormade1 @tanimaya @Tanq2u @Tawanda526 @tealCranberry7379 @tealDog6333 @tealPlace1858 @Teresa416 @terrig996 @TexasTabby L@The24hrClimber @thecaringone @thoughtfulRaspberries8714 @ThreeFires @Tish1982 @tranquilheart @Treat @Tri2BHappy @Trying5555 @turquoiseJar411 @twidget @twm @Tyedyedbutterfly @understandingSea8000 @unicornbarb @Vadras @versatileHickory1709 @Vintagelung @VioletVeritas @vouberto @Walker7957 @WarmWool @waterdragon81 @weatherphoto @WharfRat @Whisper292 @whisperingfairy7 @whispersrlonely @whitewingeddove1107 @Wicket51 @willow3836 @wittyNest2941 @WonnderWoman @Woodlandwalk42 @wordnerd @worstpossibleusername @WorkingitThrough2 @worthystruggle @WrenegadeWen @Yashoda108 @xe14 @xinero @xrosez @Yashoda108 @yzzil @Yushix @youcancallmeLili @zaramerch @Zengrl @ZeeshanZahir
@pamharley003
My biggest issues are health and loneliness.
@pamharley003
You fear getting older because fear of the unknown.
Fear of being a burden.
Fear of losing control.
Fear of losing loved ones.
Financial stress 🩵🤗
I am old. I qualify as a senior citizen. I don't like it, because I'm less capable than I was. I have pains all over. I have a lot of health problems that I'm just supposed to accept.
@pamharley003
I am not sure how we would describe it, not fear but maybe dread of being no longer useful. when we start to age, we may fear time is running out to do things we wanted. we may feel at some point others start to treat us differently. all the other of money and health can happen at any age.
the reality of a shorter window until sunset may bring wishes of days gone by....
@pamharley003
How can we take care of ourselves as we grow older?
big one for us as we already old in many people minds but keeping doctors appointments and working with the many doctors as a team taking meds and doing what the doctors say another big one is to ask questions a lot
What is one thing that may worry you about getting old?
big one is we already have no one when needed for going with us to medical things we know our health going to get worst been told that since we was about 30yr old so we faced a lot of what most worry about as they get older communication become very important to help others understand your needs and what you limited in being able to get
we just had a big one we could not find anyone to be there when we had the kidney stone surgeries so took steps to help get that need done so talked to doctors and others set up a plan to have it stay in hospital over night then have medical transportation take us home next day
so with planing many of the fears one has asthey get older can be overcome and still get the done
every stage in life we have fears about but can help to talk to others work out ahead of time things that can help too
@pamharley003 For me I have been doing things to bring strength to my arms and doing exersizes for my ankles to help prevent from falling but aging itself doesnt worry me as much as it does regarding my seizure disorder and asthma. It is that piece that has frightened me ever since my 30’s as they both most especially seizures it can cause you to lose your life. My memory has always been affected ‘cause of it so my one fear is being alone and somethin’ happen and no one finding me til its too late.
I've been old before my time, since I was young. Being ill ages you. I'm trying to rest more and become a healthier weight but it's challenging.
I worry I'll eventually get to a point where I can no longer function and that terrifies me, because the only person I can count on is myself, I rarely ask for assistance and if I do, it's never smooth.
@pamharley003 great thread Pam!
How can we take care of ourselves as we grow older? Stop and rest more often. Take a breather. Stop and see what is going on around me not just what is in my head.
What is one thing that may worry you about getting old? As a caregiver for someone that depends on me for everything I worry that they may outlive my ability to take care of them.
@pamharley003 With me its not so much the aging part that gives me fear but rather my health. I have 2 health issues that in all rea;ity can lead to death. I have had several situations involving both my asthma and my epilepsy. I Don’t Know which is more frightening either seein’ and feeling yourself unable to get air in yer lungs from severe asthma attack, or going unconscious which in one sense is better compared to having the seizure andbeing awake but not know a darn thing of where youse are or in my case when it happened when I was awake I couldnt tell a human from a building or a building from a person-everything was black other than seein’ light which was from a street light yet I didnt even know that much..so its scary. As I get older I have had experiences with my epilepsy that I didnt as a child. My fear is that it will be either my asthma or my epilepsy that will end up taking me out. I hope I am wrong but nothin’ I can do other than continue takin’ my meds and continue livin’ life the best I can inspite of it all.
