After Retirement Anxiety and DepressionRetirement means an adjustment in your mindset. After you retire, you may experience anxiety and depression . You suddenly have all this free time with no commitments - but does that make you happy, or anxious? Oddly enough, all our working years, we wish for freedom. We can't wait to be wild, happy and free in retirement. Then comes the day we walk out the proverbial retirement door -- and what do we DO with the rest of our life? This book from Amazon could greatly help you... A New Earth is about quieting the self-talk in your head to find peace. In my case, Retirement Peace! Plus there are weekly lessons on Oprah.com on the same book.. folks worldwide tuned in to ask questions to find their own peace in life. For a few dollars, I really truly think you can find peace and contentment in your own retirement, like I did! Wendy During the working years, the ability to keep up our laundry and household duties, usually done on the weekends, sounds positively blissful. Suddenly retired, those duties feel so mundane and you become bored, depressed and anxious in retirement. Recognize these anxious feelings are normal... suddenly, nothing is the same. But... that's ok as you transition into your New Retired Self, the Retired Person who is HAPPY with a New Life! -- You've left your friends behind as they are still working and that sounds depressing, but were they really friends or simply co-workers? Put the relationships in the correct perspective and if they were great friends -- grab that phone and make a lunch date with them -- now! -- You've lost your identify and ask yourself: who AM I now? You can't introduce yourself anymore -- "Hi, I'm Wendy" instead of "Hi, I'm Wendy from Human Resources" or "Sally from General Motors". Ok, now to prove my point here - even big guys like BILL GATES of Microsoft lose their identity! This is a SPOOF retirement video - Bill Gates' CES keynote featured a funny retirement video that included cameos by Jay-Z, Bono, Steven Spielberg, George Clooney, Jon Stewart, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, and Brian Williams. Bill *knew* he'd lose that Microsoft CEO Identity and chose to laugh at what his future holds. Yes, nothing is funny about retirement anxiety or depression - but I did want to show that we all - big and small - go through identity crisis. Enjoy the video! You likely assume that once you stop working, you can spend more time with your family. You have extra time now, you'd like to make dinner for them, or spend time with the grand children. BUT your grown kids are still on the fast track of life... and may have lots less time for you, compared to what you had hoped. They might welcome a baby sitter though. Just don't expect them to suddenly visit and help you more after you retire... some do, many don't. What to do? Talk to friends and family about what you are going through. Maybe one person has that nugget of wisdom that just "clicks" with you and you are on your way to a happy retirement. If necessary, seek professional help, talk to your doctor about your feelings to assure someone is caring for your welfare. Join a Retirement Group online! Just simple yahoo groups for folks to chat in. I've added a new group specifically for Retirement Transition - I hope some of you might try it. Maybe you'll have the answer for someone else, or someone's two cents just might help you through the puzzle of retirement. If not, find a new friend or two! Join one for your specific birth decade (Born in the 30s, 40s, 50s or Retired Pen Pals). You can easily get back out, if you decide its not for you, but this is one more awesome way to find new friends and talk about the retirement transition! THINK about where you'd like to be in life -- find new hobbies or new friends, volunteer, work part time -- just don't sit at home in a depressed state. Give Back to the Community!
Please Share Your Own Story on Depression/Anxiety After Retirement
Read about what other Visitors have to Say...Click below to see contributions from other visitors on this topic:
Early Retirement - What Now?
I am 56 and worked for a utility for 22 years. I had planned on working until 60 with 26 years which would give me a good retirement.
I am so nervous about retiring
My husband (59) and myself (55) plan to retire to Naples, florida next year where we have owned a condo for 15 years so we know the community.
Retiring very soon-and already depressed
I'll be retiring from my job of thirty years in about a month and I'm feeling a lot of anxiety already.
Retirement - I guess I wasn't ready...
I guess in my retirement I was not ready to go. Retirement: An Extended Vacation, and Then What? When I retired two years ago I thought it was the greatest time in my life. I felt like I was on an extended vacation and thoroughly enjoyed my first couple ...
Retirement Freefall:
Early Retirement: Depressed and not enjoying life anymore
Hi,
RETIREMENT: Ready or not, here comes my next chapter...
I retired six weeks ago. I am not depressed; actually feel real good about it. Retired and Destressed I retired a year and a half ago. I could not wait. I thought of lounging around the house and watching all the t.v. shows that I could only catch if I ... Crying with a loaf of bread under my arm... new to retirement I was recently let go from my consultant contract and am having a terrible time dealing with the fact that this may be it for me in the work place. That ...
Retirement Depression:
Retired and Now: No purpose
I am recently retired and like many longed for leisure time, time to meditate on life and to do things I had always wanted to do. Early Retirement. .. I have just been offered VR (voluntary retirement) which I have wanted for 5 years now, why am I now having second thoughts, because it is my decision ...
Retired, What now???
I just retired from teaching/playing music last July. I am 59 and have worked since I was 14.
Making the Change to Retirement, Sucks...
I am still in pre-retirement stage. Became severely depressed 3 years ago. Seem to have many regrets in my past family and business aspects.
Retirement: We dreamed a dream.. but it didn't work out
We had planned to return to our love of camping and travel once we retired. Retirement: Whole New Life It is true, retirement does depress you. And why it shouldn't? When you work for an institution for all these years and then they suddenly ask you to go,...
"So now what?"
I couldn't wait to retire, hated my job, it was so constricting, hours were weird and the stress level was high.
Retirement Freefall:
Retirement:
RETIREMENT: Ready or not, here comes my next chapter...
I retired six weeks ago. I am not depressed; actually feel real good about it.
Depression in Retirement Retired, Just Because I was Ready When I retired I did become depressed for a few months. I started spending more time with friends and spent more time on my hobbies and that helped me ...
Avoid Retirement Depression with Planning Activities...
It is always hard when you have to leave anything that you have been a part of for a long time. New Retiree dealing with ANGER... I did not realize how angry i am i am walking around with f--- y-- attitude, i am now out of the rat race, don't have to fit in or please anyone, or impress ...
Disability, Depression at Retirement, Counselling helped me.
Yes depression is a kind of disease which can lead to so many problems. Yes I had depression after my retirement. Depression and Retirement Transition There are many stresses in life that may lead to depression, and growing old can be a key one. One very important for those suffering from depression is ...
Retirement - Keep Busy
When I retired I did become depressed for a few months.
How To Retire
|
