Key message: Prolonged stress can lead to burnout, but there are ways to close the stress cycle loop and prioritize your mental health. Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more hard to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: It is easier to say ‘My tooth is aching’ than to say ‘My heart is broken.’” You might think that pursuing new learning and work is just for young people, but volunteering, career changes and returning to education are becoming more popular with people over 50. Many organisations depend on the skills and experience that older people possess. Don’t dismiss volunteering as for ‘do-gooders’: many people can tell you it’s an essential part of getting work experience. Volunteering can even be good for your health. Talk about problems and concerns To maintain wellbeing, individuals need to recognize their inner strengths. They can seek to accomplish this through therapeutic mental health interventions and meditation, as these processes help individuals to engage in further reflection about what influenced their current state and how they can move forward.

As a result of these difficulties, the fear of stigma may motivate some individuals to hide specific behaviors related to their mental illness or deny that they are having issues. Mental illness can become a defining piece of the individual’s personality and cause their interactions to be categorized by their mental illness. Often, the most challenging part of getting help is initiating the process. Individuals can get so caught up in the difficult emotions surrounding mental health conditions that it might pose a barrier to seeking help. Some strategies you can consider when encouraging someone to seek help include (American Psychiatric Association, n.d.): Pets make wonderful companions and can bring social benefits, too. Walking the dog gives you daily exercise, is a reason to go out, and is a way of meeting people. House rabbits love to play, and cats crave a warm lap to curl up on.

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There is no longer a compulsory retirement age, with the default age of 65 having been phased out. It is important to note that retirement age is not the same as state pension age, which can range between 61 and 68 depending on gender and date of birth. Holthaus, J. (n.d.). The importance of mental health awareness. Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.pinerest.org/mental-health-awareness-blog/ Admitting that times are emotionally tough isn’t easy. Asking for help can be harder. Difficult feelings can stop you from getting on with life. Feeling down or anxious for prolonged periods doesn’t just impact on you, but can also affect those around you; for instance, if your mood or reactions are unpredictable.

A local carers’ support group may help to make you feel less isolated with your responsibilities. Talking with other carers helps to release frustrations, as they understand the pressures that caring can bring. There can also be opportunities to share resources, skills and knowledge so that everyone (other carers and the people you care for) benefits. The organisations mentioned above can help, and your GP or local council may know of local groups, services and facilities. Caring community This book will help you to have discussions about worry and anxiety. This book conveys a really important message in the most delightfully simple way. When Ruby finds a worry, she just tries to ignore it until it almost consumes everything around her, no one else can see Ruby’s worry, not her family nor her school mates or teachers.The book has long been touted as a favorite within the business world, often found on the shelves of executive teams and company founders. Covey’s book, which has been in print since 1989, has also continued to draw admiration in self-help communities. If you're worried that you might run out of things to talk about,make a planwith someone to watch a TV show, live music or theatre together. Or you could take part in aquiz, orread a book separately and then discuss it with each other when you speak. Counselling offers the opportunity to talk about issues in confidence and to create a structured plan to make a positive change to your life. We all add to the stigma surrounding mental illness. I am not trying to call anyone out or make anyone feel bad, but in our own way, we all contribute to the stigma. It could be the way we think about other people with mental illness, or even the way we talk to ourselves about our own struggles.” If you think you have experienced age discrimination, organisations such as Age UK and Acas can offer information, advice and help. Still busy

We asked four authors about the obstacles and triumphs that they encountered while writing about their lived experience of mental health problems, and their best tips for writing a personal mental health story. Managing problems, difficulties and worries becomes easier if we talk about our concerns. It’s a good way to rationalise our thoughts and make sense of a situation or of how we feel. It can make us feel supported and not alone. Say what you feel Someone with specialist knowledge – perhaps someone with financial planning experience if you are struggling to meet the bills Slow, deep breathing is important… It’s like an anchor in the midst of an emotional storm: the anchor won’t get rid of the storm, but it will hold you steady until it passes.” Attached is a sigh of relief for anyone who struggles with anxiety and navigating conflict,” says Danielle Friedman, LMHC, Free Space Counseling. She finds that the book serves a deeper purpose by teaching the reader “that emotions are deeply rooted in one’s upbringing.”The world is constantly changing, and you are not alone if you feel out of step with it. Technology has had a big impact on the way we communicate. You may feel that the values and attitudes you have are no longer respected. But not everyone from the younger generation lives up to their media reputation. We may also think that fixing what is wrong will automatically lead to greater wellbeing. However, research suggests that it is far more complicated than that. Citizens Advice - has bureaus around the country and provides help online, covering topics like consumer affairs, money issues, housing, and education. A plan can help you think through all the aspects of a problem or situation. By preparing a plan, you are likely to expose and deal with many of your worries in advance.

Anyone writing about their mental health needs ‘support people’ who can help identify when the writing may be causing other concerns. Who it’s best for: anyone dealing with feelings of loss, trauma, guilt, low self-esteem, or other types of emotional pain To fight stigma, it is important for society to continually promote increased awareness and acceptance of mental health difficulties. Widespread interventions to reduce stigma are found to have a greater impact on perpetuating long-term change surrounding awareness and knowledge of mental health. Best for navigating relationships: Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find—and Keep—Love

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As we get older, we may find ourselves looking after grandchildren, elderly parents, partners, friends, or neighbours. Caring for others can keep relationships strong and people close. Fogel Mersy, L. (n.d). 101 Inspiring mental health quotes. Mental Health Match. Retrieved December 2, 2021, from https://mentalhealthmatch.com/articles/anxiety/inspiring-mental-health-quotes When individuals experience poor mental health, they may start to withdraw and can experience debilitating symptoms such as depression and anxiety. Poor mental health can also affect physical health, as individuals might react by neglecting their physical health through inconsistent eating habits, poor hygiene, and general malaise (Ohrnberger et al., 2017). When you talk to your GP about your mental health they'll listen, give you advice and introduce you to a mental health service they think will be most helpful to you. For older children, try Dr Lucy Maddox’s ‘What is mental health? Where does it come from? And other big questions.’This is a really clear, accessible guide for children aged 10 and above.