Updated 2026. My mother passed at age 97 (2024) RIP. I will be updating this site so I can help retirees again. Write to me!

Anxiety and Depression after Retiring

by Mike
(warrington)

Hi I retired from work in apri 2016 after 40 years service. I have a really good pension and no financial worries at all, But I have now been diagnosed with anxiety and depression...

I really dont know why I should feel this way as I have no real worries in my life...And yet I am tending to worry on a daily basis and dont know why??

The only thing that a I can think of is not working anymore...Its getting that way thst I feel ashamed of myself for worrying...

Comments for Anxiety and Depression after Retiring

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EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES
by: Loyce Smallwood

For the past three years I have been challenged by grieving emotions of depression, sorrow, anxiety and depression and I have balanced these troubling emotions with activities such as working out at the local health club, swimming, golf and presently racquet ball and learning to play pool.

I listen to guided meditation and self/hypnosis on YouTube and struggle to maintain a positive outlook, striving for new endeavors and peeps to enrich my life after 50 years of marriage.

Time and effort and good fortune have helped me maintain/manage successfully.
Life after Retirement
by: Liz in Georgia

Adjustment after many years of being actively employed does require some thought and soul searching about what we would really enjoy doing with the rest of our lives. Especially for those that live alone, life in retirement can be a challenge.

I've been retired since 2015 after working for fifty years. I think the best course is to take one step at a time.

First I decided I wanted to be in some sort of exercise group which is offered by our local hospital. Do that three days a week and then found out there was a local line dance group and I enjoy doing that and so joined them. Also the red hat club was popular for women a few years ago and I joined them.

When you are active and get out among people there are others that are seeking friends and you go from there and there are lots of activities that materialize.

Hope you will soon feel better about retirement and have a more active life.
No bright side?
by: Angie

I was in leadership & people were always being kind because I could offer employment opportunities,
After I retired I can see the difference, as if I'm no,longer human without the job. But, I travel alone or with a friend. Nothing stops me. Make up your mind & GET OUT THERE!!

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TRANSITIONING
by: Loyce!

Transitioning into living alone is a challenge many of us go through and when we are talking with others, we find we are in a big club so I choose those who, like me, are independent, active and in balance as I choose to focus on The Positive and minimize the negative, declining social invites that will cost me.

I thrive at the local health club where the common ground is maintaining one's fitness, or at least, attempting to do so. I dine at LOCAL eateries where the staff eventually learns my name and I can address the servers by name. I am all about local as many of us have the community as our family. I've gone to the same car dealership; have the same insurance agent and dentist for decades and I trust and feel at ease with same.

I live in a small town that is cliquish but I have fleshed out A Life, and continue to enrich and dimensionalize same. Onward
SPEND
by: Loyce!

Your financial situation will allow for professional counseling and talking always helps, especially with experts trained to work with The Depressed.
Anxiety and Depression
by: Elna Nugent, MA

Dear Mike: There is such angst and depression when men retire from their work that it deserves national attention.

Besides seeking a consultation with a recommended psychologist
( or Wendy) I think it is time for colleges to offer important courses on the ramifications of retirement that have very little to do with their financial situation.

This is an overwhelming male problem. Very serious. Most men and many women hardly know who they are apart from their work and their identity at work.

They also tend to count the years they have left and if you don't know that life continues on after death and is a continuous journey there is likely to be serious depression.

We have a universal " God " consciousness within us that we can trust more than you can imagine. Trust and gratitude bring joy and health. You are card for and don't know it. Many blessings.
Step by step
by: Michigan

Hi,

After 40 years of the same routine where work took up 10 hours or more of each day it's hard to adjust. You go from this person with responsibilities, coworkers, a place to go each day and a purpose for going to having nothing to do really.

The positive thing is that you can change things and you have made the first positive step recognizing you need change by admitting you are depressed and have anxiety.

This site has some great ideas to help you on your journey to change but remember you are unique and not everything that works for someone will work for you. I have found that it is the combination of articles you can find here that is best. I love the ones that make me laugh, but read some that make me cry, and some make me envious, but for me it's the ones that make me want to get up, exercise and be healthy not wasting the gifts God has given me that have really helped the most.

I also joined a few groups and that allows me to have someone to chat with on those long lonely day. It took me a while to be able to look forward and follow the imaginary line to the future, Actually it looking forward to the future didn't happen until I stopped thinking the past was such a great life.

You see looking back at first my life seemed so much better, happier and full but in reality while I was working and living through it well it was just like now. So my friend retirement is a journey and you need to take it one step at a time.

Life whether you are working or retired is all about balance so allowing yourself to be depressed is okay for a while but shake it off, dancing around singing and being silly, get fresh air and be thankful for what you have. Then start planning your next step. That's what works for me but like I said everyone is unique so find what works for you and start enjoying life.

Good luck :>)

Let's Talk.
by: Wendy, www.retirement-online.com

Call me. Please.

So many fall into the same retirement anxiety... this is not really unusual.

Just chat, one half hour, and see if I can help you put life into perspective?

Schedule a call here!

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