Depressed about getting old..?

Question

Im 46 AND I LOOKED IN THE MIRROR THE OTHER DAY AND REALLY WAS SHOCKED THAT MY AGE IS STARTING TO SHOW. IT SCARES ME. I THINK IM GETTING VERY DEPRESSED ABOUT IT. I TRY TO TALK OT MYSELF AND STOP THINKING THE WAY I AM BUT I GET ACHES AND PAINS AND I GET SCARED OF WHAT IT MIGHT BE..

Answer 1

I'm 41 and I went through the same thing a couple of years back. I think it's a result of seeing so many apparently perfect, but actually air-brushed or cosmetically enhanced celebrities all the time. It's something no normal person can hope to live up to.
It is a shock to suddenly realise we don't look young any more, but what really matters is what kind of person you are. Anyone who's worth knowing likes you for you, not the way you look.
That said, there's nothing wrong with trying to look your best -as other have suggested, try a good moisturiser, have your hair cut in a different style, buy some new clothes. It can help you feel more positive about yourself.

What eventually snapped me out of it was pretty drastic. Three friends a similar age to me have been diagnosed with cancer over the past few years -two have since died leaving young children behind. I know they would have given anything in the world to be in my position, with only a few lines to worry about.
Yes, ageing is a BUMMER, but it's definitely better than not ageing.

Answer 2

i think if you refuse to accept the way you are changing and constantly compare yourself to how you were in your youth then you will not age well and have very little to look forward to, if however you can accept the changes and adapt to them you will age with grace and continue to enjoy your life for decades to come, as far as aches and pains ...eh i have aches and pains and I'm 29 very few people get through life without some sort of chronic pain issue so if your just now getting aches and pains at 47 then WOW you are a lucky person! what i have found in my short time so far.. (im 29 but that doesn't mean i couldn't possibly have anything to say that would help you) ...is that life is a series of changes and the people whop tend to be the most miserable as they get older are the ones who begin refusing to accept change,this can even mean accepting your physical changes. if your find that you have been static for too long and you are feeling "stale" or depressed because of it you should find something new to focus your energy on, 47 is not too late to begin ANYTHING i know an 80 year old who has just begun to learn to speak french, you might wonder why an 80 year old (with cancer mind you) would want to learn french, will he even have time to learn it? maybe not but he told me its all about the experience of it, the feeling that he is broadening his intellect and doing something new ,with every new interest you expose yourself to and every new experience you add to who you are and change who you are, try not to focus on mundane crap* like signs of age and begin something new, try taking a pottery class or learn the piano.

Answer 3

If you don't like the signs of aging, try to minimize them. Get enough sleep every night-- when you are sleeping, your body repairs itself. Use a good facial cream-- that should help your skin to stay looking younger.

As far as the aches and pains, you can improve your health, which should help some. Drink water. You need half of your body weight in ounces of water daily. So if you weigh 150 lb, you need 75 oz of water daily. Eat lots of vegetables. Vegetables are so good for you and can even reverse the effects of aging. Don't eat junk food. Exercise-- go for walks. Take deep breaths-- it helps to clean your lungs out. The way we breathe today, our lungs are only partly emptied when we breathe out. There are toxins in the bottom of our lungs that don't get expelled from our bodies. So breathing in deeply and breathing out completely are excellent for good health.

Enjoy your life! You don't have to worry about getting older. Do something with your life that you won't regret. Do something you have always wanted to do. Volunteer and help hurting people-- this greatly improves your quality of life. Thank God for each day you have to live. Make the most of every day and live it to its fullest.

Answer 4

I'm 57 and yea it gets depressing sometimes.My ex won't allow Rice Krispies in her house because for 20 + years she heard Snap,Crackle and Pop every morning.That was me getting out of bed.But the way I see it,growing older beats the alternative:at least for now.There's an old saying that no one wants to live to be 100.Except the person who's 99.

Answer 5

Anni u will be okay those are called beauty lines ..and the aches and pains r from all the fun u had in your 20s and 30s...asprin are your friend..and good for the heart...maybe u need to clean your mirror too...smiles sm

Answer 6

I'm 57 and I look better then most 30 year olds. Not an ounce of fat, toned muscles, and can run five miles. Age is just a number. My advise: Go crazy on diet and exercise and look and feel great.

Answer 7

I know what you feel, I got to 29 and got white hairs and other age associated cosmetic signs.

It is very depressing, and the only way to cope is to realise we are all lucky to get 'old' when some people in Africa are 'old' at 7.

This is the only way to pick yourself up, dust yourself off - and celebrate being alive.

Answer 8

Silly girl ! Getting older is nothing to be depressed about. You will learn so much about what is really important in life. Instead of seeing the negative, think positive.

Answer 9

It's really rough, but try moisturizing. It helps significantly. Even if you can't afford the expensive treatments, go to your local drugstore and purchase some anti-aging products.. including facial moisturizer and eye cream. I think you'll be surprised and you'll feel so much better about yourself and your age :) live your life!

Answer 10

me too.im 37 and im scared of looking old.
from what i have seen and read diet and excercise can make huge difference in the aging process..as can tips n tucks...it happends to us all..so try not to feel to down about it.