[GreyThinker]

Hi everyone

I have been here a couple of days, reading and stuff... but what I noticed is that most people who post here are young - in their teens, even. I am in my fifties and have been depressed on and off all my life, but at the moment at my worst. Is it mainly young people who get depressed nowadays? are there any older people here? I feel old and out of things and like I don't really belong anywhere, not even here. I know I am being irrational and self-pitying and that annoys me and makes me feel even worse - but I am pretty sure you all know about that. I would just like to hear an older voice say it is gonna get better. Otherwise I don't really have much of a life to look forward to, no reason to try. At least when you are young, you can half-way believe that you still have time for things to turn around.

Blah.. I am so blue today.

[unaluna]

we have older people on the boards all over. we just SOUND like teenagers

[Nobodyandnothing]

I am in my 50's too. We are glad that you are here.

[roads]

Hi, GreyThinker. Welcome to PsychCentral. I'm 66, & a lot of the folks I keep up with here are about my age or a bit older--so were not all kids here. The younger people talk on the forums a lot, we oldsters maybe chat in small groups or private mail more.
Obviously the overall picture isn't going to get sunshine and songbirds for us--right? But I expect lots of great days and weeks ahead, maybe whole months ... With occasional periods of down time. I'm bipolar, and it's a struggle; but I've got a terrific pdoc, and my meds keep me in balance most of the time. He's good about working closely with me to keep the meds monitored & adjusted.
I have increasing physical problems, but again my med-doc is tops and works with my acupuncturist so I take minimum meds and have little pain or significant physical restrictions so far.
All in all, I'm very lucky with my team.
I've been on PC for a year and find the members here generous and supportive. Many are in their forties and fifties. Feel free to post in the forums, anywhere you feel comfortable. I think you'll get a cross-section do respondents.
If there's anything I can do to help you settle in, please let me know.
Roadie.

[GreyThinker]

thanks for the hugs and comments... I'll do as you suggest and keep reading. Funny thing is, when I turned 50 I was in a great frame of mind and quite sure life was going to be up from then on. I figured I had done the hard time and learnt about life and knew where to go next. Haha. Anyway, thanks... good to connect with someone.

[two sons]

I am 49 - will be 50 on December 31 this year. So you are not alone here.

[phillygem]

Hello I'm new here to and 49 will be 50 in Feb...I like it here so far people are nice . And I think its helps to give positive feed back even when I feel like crap. I hope you get relief from your sadness soon. Bless you.

[alone in the world]

Again another person of age I myself am 51 and find that I get the support I need on PC and I like to make myself available for people to PM.

[Rachel.i]

Another one here... I'm in my 50's too.

[CandleGlow]

Me too

[GreyThinker]

thanks everyone! great to hear from you! Now... since it seems that around this time of life everything starts falling apart, does anyone have any ideas how to cope with it? Are there ways of dealing with marriage breakdown, kids leaving home and not contacting, living alone or in unsuitable lodgings, no money or job, dreadful prospects in job market, aching body and shocking news on the TV all the time? I try to keep busy, am going to college to try to get some kind of job, eat healthy (unless I am depressed then it is microwaved battered fish and wine)(which is happening a lot lately). But, I keep coming up against - is this worth it? At this point in time, I feel my best life is behind me. What is there to come?

[roads]

Your old life is behind you. Life ahead can't be the same. How up for change are you? Flexible, adaptable?

Courses ... Good. Look at new careers opening up. Volunteering is good, stay active .. . Don't lose the work habit or ethic. Is your spouse set on leaving? Are you still/ever were soul mates? Maybe let it happen is easiest response, put energy & resources into what now? IDK--that's the heartbreaker for most of us. Death of love.

Kids leave? Bless them, help keep communications open. Hope they're independent.

Go as minimally as possible. Get rid of things. Don't invest in anything. Don't retire, work at something that fascinates you. Kids. Sports. Smoking fish. But underplay, underwhelm, keep it simple. There's a lot of room for us old folks to do well and have a good life in our Senior Years if we're willing to keep it simple. If we can keep it honest, we find each other & it's not so lonely as years go by. Don't rush it... You are still young, compared to me !

At least, that's how I see it.

& oh yes, I keep up on all the issues through reading, but seldom watch any daily news shows. Too stressful & aggravation.

Roadie.

[shortandcute]

Originally Posted by two sons

I am 49 - will be 50 on December 31 this year. So you are not alone here.

I'll be 50 on december 9th this year.