Does one exist and I've missed it or does it not (yet) exist?

[Skully]

Good question...I just looked and didn't see anything. That is a very good idea though. I am only 34 but I feel like I am trapped in an 80 year olds body lol.

[Leed]

I'm 61, and i feel like I'm 91. We should have a forum for aging issues. Boy do I have them. LOL Mostly it's just my body won't cooperate! My mind is 25, but not my body. Trouble is, it started falling apart at 38.

Who's going to start the ball rolling? Let's talk. Hugs, Lee

[madisgram]

on the other hand i find my issues are like everyone elses even tho i am gettin' up there.
are there things you feel are different for us?
i noticed your screen name...what makes you unhappy? do you care to share?

Especially in the gay community, aging is a big issue. Recently, I had 2 friends give up on their lives. One developed diabetes - a very treatable disease - but insisted that he wanted to live a normal life. He refused medication and didn't last long. Another, my best friend of 25 years, also gave up on his life. When things got tough, he ate whatever junk and fast food he wanted, became obese and developed 2 types of cancer. His selected cure for this? Become an alcoholic. He became so abusive that I had to end the friendship even though he was ill. It was very emotionally painful.

As for myself, I am a bit younger (am in my early 50s) but have had lingering injuries for years that prevent me from doing the athletic things I used to do. I've had difficulties finding new hobbies. And, I've developed chronic diseases that limit my diet and other activities. I tried spirituality but it didn't help. Therapy didn't help. I work full-time but am so tired when I get home that I don't go out. I have become a loner.

I am having trouble with aging - the baldness, the lower sexual drive, the weight gain, the prejudice, the lack of music on the market that caters to my tastes, the limited diet, the loss of friends, etc. It's all taking its toll. I am drawing on all my experience and wisdom to deal with it. And, I'm really not that old.

My old fashioned values are looked down on. I cannot believe people living beyond their means and feeling they are entitled to it. Whatever happened to obeying the law, being polite and humble? So what if economic times are hard? That should make no difference because it's part of life that everyone has to deal with. I still define having class as one's good behavior and living with grace; being foul mouthed and a braggart, wearing overtly sexy clothes with little modesty, driving a bling car or living in a mcmansion house and treating others badly means one has bad taste and does not say one has class or good taste. Comments?

[sunrise]

Unhappyguy, I have seen discussions on aging issues in some of the other forums. For example, aging issues related to health in the "Health Support" forum, and medication issues related to mental health in older adults in the "Psychiatric Medications" forum. There was recently a thread for "older" folks who are going back to school in the "School and Study Issues" forum that I participated in. And a discussion of baldness might find a home in the "Men-focused Support" forum. A discussion of ageism in the work force might be found in "Recession, Lay-offs, and the Economy." I have seen discussions of low sex drive in "Sexual and gender issues." So some of these issues are being discussed. There are also a lot of social groups on various themes. I know there is one for women over 40. There may be others that include men--I don't know. I don't think there is a forum here, though, that is a home for discussion of all aging issues.

[Beholden]

Hi Guy,

Why not start your own social group for aging issues. I started one for Ladies Aged 50 and Better and we talk about what ever issue we want, I get what you mean about being older and how this does matter whether it is about being gay or having chronic health issues, etc...sometimes it IS the aging bit that causes frustration or not and it is harder to find - make new friends and have a social life and be able to physically do what you want to....

boy how's that for a run on sentence?

There are a lot of guys who wouldlove to talk about aging as the issue I'm sure.

[Christina86]

Folks, please keep in mind that all posts here must be supportive regardless of your opinions on an issue, as per our Community Guidelines.

Thanks!

Christina86
co-administrator

[DocJohn]

If we were to do a forum for aging issues, I'd also suggest a forum for teens. We have resisted going down this road, since each age group seems to have a unique set of issues they face.

However, happy to consider it if demand is there. And as others have mentioned, there are some social groups here on these topics. (We added Social Groups to the main community menu so they're easier to find.)

Best,
DocJohn

[Skully]

I have created a chat for aging and aging and mental health issues. It is on Fridays at 6pm. All are welcome to join!

[DancingAlone]

Yes, there are at least three social groups for aging issues. If you go to the top of this page (upper left where it says forums--and you need to be logged in to see it) and as DocJohn says, click on the topic to the right of that called Social Groups, you will find them.

One is called "Trying to Age Gracefully" one is "Ladies Age 50 or Better" and a third is "Women over 40".

They vary as to what page they are on as people post they move to the top the same as in forums. May have to search a bit.

There is one for teenagers. It is called "PC Teens" and a similar one is "Twentysomething" for ages 19-31. I don't know how current those are though.