Psychological Distress in Old Age:Nature and Concerns

Distress has been defined as an unpleasant subjective, mental state. It can be brought on by stress caused by adverse events. This occurs when there are excessive adaptive demands placed upon an individual, often having emotional and physiological manifestations. In old age, an individual faces many changes and challenges, in the form of loss of physical health and vitality, widowhood, retirement, death of peers and friends, loneliness, and dealing with ones impending mortality. All these changes take a toll on the older persons' mental health, leading to psychological distress. The changing social milieu, is also leading to decreased support for the elderly, with an increase in the nuclear family setting, and thereafter, the Empty Nest Syndrome. The coping strategies for the elderly persons, to deal with this distress are also discussed in this paper.