Don’t take aging too seriously
Many patients come to see me in quest of the fountain of youth. This is understandable, but the search often hides a pathologic misunderstanding of life and death. Sure, we do well to eat our veggies, exercise regularly and cultivate loving relationships to increase longevity. But, to live in constant fear of death is not healthy.
Best to laugh as we age with dignity.
A belief in life after death, not shared by all, is also advisable.
References
Why older adults benefit from regular doses of humor
AMA Bulletin, MAR 22, 2023. Andis Robeznieks
“There are a lot of physical benefits of laughter,” according to Rebecca Abenante, MA, MSW, LSW, ASW-G. She is the healthy aging coordinator for New Jersey’s Atlantic Health System. Atlantic Health is a member of the AMA Health System Program, which provides enterprise solutions to equip leadership, physicians and care teams with resources to help drive the future of medicine.
The benefits of laughter include boosting the level of oxygen in the blood and the release of cortisol, endorphins and the immune system’s T-cells, Abenante said during “Chuckles, Chortle and Giggles: The Benefits of Laughter for Seniors,” a web-based seminar on the physical and mental benefits of laughter presented by Atlantic Health.
“It’s hard to feel that stress when you’re laughing,” Abenante said. Laughter also boosts levels of dopamine and other stress-busting chemicals and hormones that can naturally help to lower anxiety and depression, added Abenante, who is a social worker specializing in working with older adults and their families. Laughter also works out the diaphragm and improves “cough efficacy,” which is important for people with asthma, bronchitis or other chronic lung issues to help “get things up and out,” she said.
Functional relevance of belief in life-after-death.
Journal of Personality and Clinical Studies, 8(1-2), 97–100.
Studied the emotion managing function of belief in life after death in dealing with death anxiety. The differences in the concept of afterlife were examined in 20 Ss (aged 60–70 yrs) from each of 3 religions: Hindu, Islam, and Christianity. Hindu Ss had the lowest level of death anxiety, followed by Muslim Ss, with the Christian Ss having the highest death anxiety. Hindus had the strongest belief in life after death, Muslims had the weakest belief in afterlife, and Christians fell in the middle.
