Counseling Helps Coping with Changes Like Aging and Retirement Adjustment
“Every seven seconds, a baby boomer turns 50. By 2020, a full third of the American nation will be 55 or older.” – Casey Stengel. Aging and adjusting to retirement mean different things to different people. Body and life changes can trigger stress, anxiety, and depression for some. Conversely, making a constructive transition through this stage of life can be both challenging and rewarding. With the assistance of a counselor in Peoria IL from Chapin & Russell Associates, you can learn how to cope with such changes.
The Struggles of Transitioning into Retirement
At first thought, you might believe retirement to be a relief, freeing yourself from your job and numerous responsibilities. While this is true, the appeal of retirement wears off for some. Instead of feeling joy or relaxation, you can end up feeling bored, anxious, depressed or without purpose. These emotions are natural to feel as you begin to adjust to your “new normal.” Other negative feelings associated with retirement include:
- Decline in confidence
- Loss of self-identity
- Feelings of isolation
- Feelings of guilt
- Difficulty switching from work to no work
- Sense of wasting your time
Contending with Body Changes
It was distressing enough when you were a teenager going through puberty. Now, as an adult, your body is changing again. With age can come medical issues pertaining to vision, hearing, strength, memory and more. However, such changes are nothing to be ashamed of. You can learn new ways to work through bodily changes by speaking with a counselor.
How Can Counseling Help?
If experiencing anxiety or depression, it’s beneficial to talk with a counselor. The professionals at Chapin & Russell Associates work closely with our clients to get to the source of what might be causing you emotional distress. While there are medications to treat physical symptoms of your changing body, counseling can treat associated mental symptoms. In meeting with our counselors, we assist elderly adults through such challenges as:
- Making plans for the future
- Discovering a new sense of purpose
- Preparing for the end of life and one’s own mortality
- Coping with anxiety and depression
- Offering mental exercises for keeping the mind sharp
- Providing support and validation
Talk with Our Team
Don’t let concerns over health and age dictate how you live your life. With counseling for aging and retirement adjustment from Chapin & Russell Associates, you can learn to manage your emotions as you enter your elderly years. If you are having trouble with mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, stress and more, talk with our mental health professionals. Learn more by contacting us today at 309-681-5850. We are located at 3020 W Willow Knolls Dr, Ste #2, Peoria, IL 61614. We offer general counseling services and telehealth therapy for clients in Peoria, East Peoria, Dunlap, Washington, and communities throughout Central Illinois.
