Are You Ready To Let Go Of Anger And Live A Happier Life?
Are you struggling to adjust to and accept the physical, emotional and social transitions that often come with aging? Is it difficult for you to ask for help or to accept that you cannot take care of everything with the same ease that you once did? Have friends or family members expressed concerns about how you are treating yourself and/or others? Are members of your social group developing illnesses or passing away, causing you to suffer grief, as well as to contemplate your own end-of-life issues? Have you been questioning the value and meaning of your life and feel that you’re coming up short? Are you easily triggered and prone to angry outbursts or, alternatively, withdrawing from friends and family? Do you often wish that you could find more meaning in your life, feel less angry, and impart wisdom to and share joy with younger generations?
As you might well know, life comes with many major cycles and transitions, and many of them are difficult to understand, navigate and accept. Transitioning into the senior years of life is no exception. In fact, for many people, it can be the most challenging transition to come to terms with. It can be difficult to accept losing friends to illness or old age, dealing with the slower pace or loss of mobility that comes with aging, and to ask for help after being high functioning and self-sufficient throughout life. Many seniors experience depression, anxiety, isolation and a heightened irritability as they struggle with medical concerns, a decreasing social support system, and the grief and loss that are all part of the senior years.
Many Seniors Struggle With Anger Issues And Other Difficult Emotions
It is very common for seniors to experience periods of heightened irritability, anger and fear. In fact, most seniors go through a period of time when they find it difficult to accept life’s changes. Often, this inability to accept change and deal with the difficult emotions that change creates is expressed through anger. It’s common and normal to feel resistant to transition and it can take time to process difficult feelings, such as grief, however, if you’re perpetually angry, prone to angry outbursts that are isolating you from friends and family, avoiding people and places you once enjoyed and/or can no longer justify your anger, a BPS therapist can provide you with insight, options, support and relief.
Therapy Can Help You Find Value, Peace and Joy In Your Life
Oftentimes, simply having an outlet – someone to talk to who understands angry feelings and the senior experience– can provide so much relief. It can be so helpful to share frustrations and concerns with another person and relieving to learn that you are not the only person struggling with anger and other overwhelming emotions.
Your highly trained and experienced BPS can help you identify, explore and address the root causes of your anger. Together, you can examine the sources of your unhappiness – past and present – and begin to make sense of both your life achievements and mistakes. Oftentimes, digging into and really understanding yourself – where you’ve been, are, and want to go – can immediately decrease persistent irritability and create a sense of peace.
Your BPS therapist can help you set goals for personal and social growth and provide you with support as you take steps to achieve them. You can identify and explore your strengths, and plan around those strengths. Your therapist can also help you work through feelings, losses, and situations that are causing you to experience anger and pain. You will be provided with support as you navigate issues, such as limited mobility, medical conditions or losses, and work toward acceptance and peace.
With help and a willingness to look at yourself with a curious and honest heart and mind, it is possible to develop a new perspective and create a more joyful life. You can build new connections with friends and family, develop new hobbies and find wellness alongside illness. You can enjoy the sense of contentment and wellbeing that you deserve after working hard for so many years. Sometimes a simple shift in perception, the right therapist and a willingness to do and feel something different is all it takes to experience sustained joy.
But, you still may have questions or concerns…
I think that therapy could be helpful, but I’m on a fixed income and concerned about costs.
This is your life and wellbeing. And, the physical, mental and social costs of unexpressed or overexpressed anger can be high. Addressing angry feelings and related issues now can not only make you feel better sooner, but it can also prevent negative feelings from worsening, which can lead to isolation, increased fears and a perpetual sense of bitterness.
Many people come to BPS having worked with other therapists who were not trained to work specifically with seniors struggling with anger issues or who they couldn’t relate with – which is a waste of time and money. At BPS, we’ll conduct a referral assessment and match you with a therapist who is trained and experienced to work with seniors experiencing heightened anger and whose personality is a good match for yours. Once you find that good match, making a commitment to yourself may be one of the most valuable investments there is. Imagine feeling and functioning better now and in the long-term on a regular basis and ask yourself what that’s worth.
If money still is an issue, you can talk with your BPS therapist to see if they work on a sliding scale. They may also be able to help you find other lower cost resources in the community.
I don’t want to tell a stranger – even if it is a therapist – my problems.
Although it may sound counterintuitive, oftentimes talking to a stranger about problems and difficult emotions can be easier than talking to a friend or family member. Talking with a therapist, particularly one who understands anger issues and the senior experience can provide an enormous amount of relief. As an objective third party, your BPS therapist can offer you a safe, confidential, and nonjudgmental place to begin to understand and work through the feelings and dilemmas that are causing you anger and pain. Your therapist can offer insights, gentle guidance and support as you gain the clarity and wisdom needed to navigate this next stage of your life.
Therapy is for crazy people and I’m not crazy.
The vast majority of people who see a therapist do not have serious or significant problems. Rather, they are regular people seeking extra support and guidance so they can live a more comfortable, productive and joyful life. The goal of therapy is to help you identify the feelings and situations that are keeping you from living the life you want to be living. It is a place to develop solutions, shift perspectives, and set and achieve goals. It is also a place for self-growth, reflection and constructing the life you want. Your BPS therapist can help you take active control of your thoughts, feelings and actions, gently pushing you to achieve all that you want to at this stage in your life.
We encourage you to schedule a referral assessment with a BPS therapist Dr. Jan Hittelman. We will work with you to determine what your specific issues are and ensure a good match between you and a BPS therapist in terms of personality, style and expertise.
You can also check out our free, online therapist directory, which will match you with a therapist who has expertise working with seniors with anger issues.