Facts on Stress
Causes of Stress in Older Persons
- Retirement worries
- Personal illness
- Sexual difficulties
- Death of a family member or close friend
- Dependant parents
- Young adult age children
- Becoming a grandparent
- Divorce
Symptoms of Stress
- You feel trapped
- You worry excessively
- You can't concentrate
- Your sleep, eating habits, job, relationships, and everyday life are affected
Ways to Reduce Stress
- Take time for yourself to relax (yoga, massage)
- Do an activity you enjoy each day
- Eat nutritious food and get adequate sleep
- Share your feelings with a trustworthy friend, family member, clergy or mental health professional
- Laugh by finding humor in a situation or video
- Keep focused on the present and future
For more information contact a Senior Outreach Specialist:
Roberta Williams, MS, CRC
Franklin-Williamson Human Services
(618) 937-6483 ext.7504
Linda Warner, EdM, QMHP
Heartland Human Services
(217) 347-7179
Juanita Suro, MA NCC MAC LCPC
Southeastern Illinois Counseling Centers
(618) 445-3559
Source of Information: "Manage Stress: Keep Your Cool at 50 Plus," an AARP publication.