[Senior Trend] Anxiety About Aging, Depression... "Invest in Your Mind Too"

It is spring. Walking down a street lined with blooming forsythia flowers feels so warm that it is hard to remember the cold winter. On such a day, I take out the topic of melancholy, which I have carefully kept in a drawer. The number of depression patients in Korea is increasing every year, reaching about one million as of 2022. According to data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, about 37% of the 50-60 age group, roughly 4 out of 10 people, were affected in 2021. Senior depression is serious but still a new and challenging area. With the number of psychiatrists being only 0.4% of the patients, I believe that understanding the 'common cold' of the mind ourselves is essential for both prevention and healing. How about starting a conversation in this blossoming season and paving a positive path?

As aging progresses, the incidence of depression among seniors inevitably increases. Generally, the aging process causes overall shrinkage in us. The senior period in the life cycle is getting longer. Various changes related to aging occur, and sensitivity to diseases and death increases, leading to anxiety. This is called 'Age-Related Anxiety.' It includes concerns about health and physical function decline, economic situations, dementia fears, changes in appearance, and social losses. Therefore, the 'anti-aging' market is rapidly growing. According to the '2020 Anti-Aging Manufacturing Industry Survey' published by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, it is a 20 trillion won market. By sector, pharmaceuticals account for about 10 trillion won, cosmetics about 5 trillion won, and health functional foods about 3 trillion won. The focus is on physical aging.

However, aging experts unanimously agree that to prepare for wise aging, it is important not only to take care of physical health but also to build relationships and manage the mind. Social isolation due to retirement and bereavement, health problems, family conflicts, and economic issues are often new experiences. As a result, seniors experience extreme stress. Even among people of the same age, the speed and extent of aging vary greatly depending on individual circumstances. Activities that were once no big deal may become impossible, causing frustration and lowered self-esteem. Memory, quickness, and fatigue-related depression make everything bothersome. There are also various chronic pain conditions.

Moreover, senior depression often presents with vague physical symptoms, cognitive decline, and personality changes, making early detection difficult and sometimes mistaken for dementia. Wrinkles on the face are visible, but mental aging is hard to detect without careful and continuous observation. Also, some refuse treatment due to low motivation for healing because of their age or various burdens. However, various preventive methods are emerging, which I would like to introduce.

Dr. Lee Geun-hoo, a senior scholar and psychiatrist who studied the human mind throughout his life and author of I Want to Live Happily Until I Die, said, “It is difficult because people focus on what worsens with age and grieve over what they lose. Instead of trying to find the good in aging, it is much more important to have the mindset of creating good and enjoyable things as you age.” He also quoted British scholar Bertrand Russell’s words: “The wider the world of enjoyment, the more opportunities for happiness, and the less one is subject to fate.” After all, we live through various situations, whether we want to or not, and these choices accumulate to form our lives. If we decide to live thinking it is fun, such a life will be created.

Meanwhile, Dr. Lee Si-hyung, famous for serotonin (hormone) health methods, says that living long without preparation is a punishment. Instead, he offers specific practical advice: “Walk for about 20 minutes daily in the sunlight, do short meditation, always have a grateful heart, and greet others with a warm hug. Practice ‘Sosik Dadong (少食多動, eat less and move more),’ chew food slowly and thoroughly, and park your car as far away as possible. Simple cooking also helps activate the brain. When angry, take a few slow deep breaths, and if you are going to argue, do it while walking.”

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) introduced the lives of seniors who accept aging more positively in their ‘Second Life Study’ report at the end of 2021. American seniors increasingly evaluate their human relationships positively as they age, and the number of respondents who rate their relationships with family or friends as very good increases proportionally with age. On the other hand, according to the 2020 Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs Elderly Survey report, seniors aged 65 and older in Korea had fewer friends or family members with whom they could open their hearts. Korean seniors need to invest more in communication and relationships where they can be open.

In summary, maintaining healthy eating habits, active exercise, social activities, finding new hobbies, or seeking fresh experiences are necessary. Also, receiving appropriate treatment with professional help or practicing meditation or yoga to maintain a healthy psychological state is effective. If I may add a few more, I recommend drinking tea, writing a diary, and growing plants. When experiencing emotional ups and downs or emptiness, brewing tea as a ritual soothes the warmth and calms the mind. Writing a diary allows self-objectification and helps not only reflection but also planning for tomorrow. Growing plants, known as companion plants, helps stabilize the mind and body. Lastly, I recommend welcoming and helping young people who visit. Accept aging more positively and socialize through volunteering. In a world where we live together, seniors actually have a lot to offer.

Lee Boram, CEO of Third Age