the aging process

I wanted to post about this after it came up while I was posting to another thread.. but does anyone feel depressed about the aging process?
not so much dying, and the thought of death (this isn't about death at all), but getting to the stage where you feel a lot older than you are?- body failing, memory going etc- and not being able to do the things you used to do?

it's a big thing for me. I'm young still, but can't help feel that a bit of me is going day by day- memory, body control, alertness, and I just think back... remember when I was like this, this, this, what ever?

what about you

Well... I am old. So, every day, I experience the sorts of things you mentioned. In some ways it can be depressing. But in other ways it's a comfort because I no longer feel as though I have to maintain any pretense of being young, strong & competent (since I never really was anyway... I just tried to make other people think I was.)

I also find my own aging process to be something of a comfort because I have no interest in prolonging my life any longer than necessary. So, from that perspective, all of my own signs of aging act as little reminders that, although I may still live on for quite a few more years, I'm definitely approaching the end. Besides... there's no way I know of to go back under any circumstances. So I might as well just enjoy the parts of growing old that can be enjoyable. And there are some...

The aging process happens to everyone as they get older and there's no avoiding it. It doesn't feel all that great when it happens. I felt like things were great in my life until I started to turn 50. By then things seemed to have fallen apart. Throughout my fifties, there seemed to be one thing after another going wrong. It was not that way before 50.

At first, being in my 60s, it was OK. I'm still older and had some declines. But lately it seems like body problems have been coming back to me. So those things are not pleasant to deal with.

I don't have any advice or suggestions to make. I try to stay healthy and feeling young by moving a lot, exercising, listening to good music, and be immersed to things that make me feel alright even if other people object.

I don't like the whole bit of being alive and not well in life. Right now I'm doing pretty good but have some minor problems. Lots of times I fear that being alright could come to an end. I'm not ready to have my life end yet, but if it's going to happen and I have no choice in the matter, then bring it on!

And by the way thank you so much, Raging Vortex, for bringing this subject up.

i think the aging process can be scary, yeah. Although i am still young i am often nostalgic for the past and i think that can contribute to me feeling sad. Thank you so much for making this thread. i agree with the other wise and wonderful posters about bringing this subject up. Love. Sending many Safe, warm hugs to ALL of you, @raging vortex, your Families, your Friends and ALL of your Loved Ones! Keep fighting and keep rocking NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, OK?!

I feel OK enough with it. I mean that life has it's different stages. One is a child and likes to play (some hurts too much in their childhood), then comes the teenage years to prepare for adulthood, some of us marry and become parents, some get divorced while others are widowed, while still others manage to save their marriage. Some never marries or find a loved one, but cope on their own. For those of us who got children, there are grandchildren and after that great-grandchildren.

I have met both sorrow and happiness in my life. Some of the sorrow turned into depression. I have learned coping strategies for that. I have got the education I wanted, the work I wanted and feel that even if I also had to struggle from time to time, I can look back upon life and see that I managed a lot.

Yes, to become old often mean physical limitation and physical pain. I feel that this stage in life has it's challenges as did the other stages, but as long as I am prepared to not let myself lose grip on my life, it is worth it. One has to create a meaning for this stage as one had to do for the other stages. I agree with Skeezyks, to become old has it's advantages as well. One don't have to pretend anymore. One are free to enjoy all the good things that are there as well.

I try to live one day at the time and take life as it comes.

I feel like with aging, some things diminished but other things strengthened. I’m in my 50’s now. I could work at it and look a lot better. I’ve been through a lot of emotional turmoil over the past several years, especially. So, I didn’t take good enough care of myself. But, if I tried, i could improve, if I wanted to.

It’s not the thought that I’m not strong enough to do things I used to. For me, it’s more an ego thing; like getting flirty glances vs. getting called ma’am.

Yes, I've been feeling depressed about the aging process lately. Guess because I'm middle aged now

He, he, well said!

I am considered old: 71 years old. It is discouraging to have daily lapses of memory, lack of strength, all all the physical issues. I've battled depression all my life. I can reflect on the past good times, my two sons, my two grand-kids. I've been fortunate to have accomplished many things in my life, but overcoming depression is NOT one of them.

I'm not afraid of dying, we all will in time.

Thank you for listening to me.

I am terribly upset about the aging process even at 48 because I am so depressed and anxious all the time and I cannot get myself to accept it. I also worry and fear the dying process. No idea what to do. This is a hellish existence for me. I have tried almost everything and nothing helps.

I'm an old bag. My memory is fading. I am a saggy baggy who is flabby all over. I look ok nevertheless and quite younger than my age. But, age can not be beaten. I feel old despite my youthful appearance.

I recently turned 47. My eyesight is going. I've gained weight. I've been fat-shamed (as both an Asian thing as well as a pandemic-related thing). It's hard to lose the weight. I'm still low-functioning disabled, so I haven't been able to rehabilitate to a high- or average-functioning grad student or employee in the workforce. I miss my youth. I miss the energy and abilities I had. I miss my athletic body. I miss being able to see both close and far without the need for bifocals, trifocals, or transitionals. I miss having energy. I miss having my entire life ahead of me and so much hope for so many different careers and friends I could make. I miss the pre-birth body without the sags and stretch marks. I miss non-droopy boobs. I miss the firmer, glowing, youthful skin. I miss not having to color my hair because of grays. I miss my healthier hair. I missed out on so many opportunities, and I fear it's too late. I am depressed about all of my lack of accomplishments. I fear I have nothing to show for any of my past accomplishments, and I fear a poor legacy after I die. I fear I have no more purpose in life, and that I'm not part of society. I hate the ageism and ableism I've experienced ever since my late-30s.

So, yeah, I've been depressed and dealing with midlife transitions. I may not qualify for the midlife crisis diagnosis, but I feel that middle-aged persons need support in this area. We're not 55+, so we haven't even reached those struggles yet.

I fear menopause. I may be perimenopausal, but I don't know. I have enough medical issues I'm dealing with as it is.

I fear getting heart attacks or strokes. I fear being alone and not having anyone to help me call 911 when I'm having a heart attack or stroke. Both of my parents suffered from heart problems. My father passed away from a heart attack. My mother had a triple-heart bypass a few years back. But they both had family. I'm alone.

I'm depressed because I'm aging alone, and I have no family, no real social capital, no career, no nothing to show for it.

Mental illness robs us of our youth, abilities, and happiness. I understand your feelings. I don't miss anything but revel in my experiences. My past is not a tragedy, but lessons to be learned. I am more compassionate, kinder, and wiser because of my illness. I would not trade my life for anybody else's. I am who I am because of my past and present. I have no regrets. Our illness is not our fault. We should not wish life could have been different if we had not been ill. How do you know this? I don't. I accept my fate and am defiant about overcoming obstacles and fighting until the bloody end. How about you?

I am terribly afraid and very sad about aging and I am 48. I just keep feeling and imagining myself older and how much more awful I will feel then. And there is no solution for this obsession! It is stealing all my days along with my dying fears. 😔

Ditto. I feel similarly.