Are you feeling anxious about retirement? It’s completely understandable to have worries during this time. You’re not alone if you find it hard to calm your mind because of persistent thoughts about your future. It can be tough to relax when concerns about not being able to quit your job or feeling unprepared financially keep creeping in. Remember, it’s okay to feel this way.
Breaking Down What Anxiety Really Means
Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease. It often relates to an upcoming event or uncertain outcome. This response is normal when starting a new chapter in life. It reflects our body’s way of handling perceived dangers.
The fight-or-flight response, also known as the acute stress response, is a common reaction to threats. When we perceive danger, our bodies prepare for survival. This natural defense mechanism is especially helpful. For example, it allows you to react quickly when facing a rabid dog in an alley.
Common Triggers Behind Retirement Anxiety
Retirement should not be a source of fear. However, the prevalent anxiety-inducing messages about retirement can overwhelm many individuals. Accepting these warnings without question may lead to feelings of anxiety or unhappiness.
Common causes of retirement anxiety include worrying about the amount of money needed for retirement and realizing that you are far from that goal.
Other causes of retirement anxiety:
- Wanting to take Social Security at age 62, but think you shouldn’t because everybody tells you not to.
- Praying that you stay healthy to 65 so you can take Medicare.
- Fearing that your spouse wants to move, but you don’t.
- Afraid you’ll be alone.
- Reflecting on your life and thinking your legacy sucks.
- Worrying if you can still retire if the stock market crashes.
Spotting symptoms of retirement anxiety
In stressful situations, the sympathetic nervous system activates. Your heart rate increases, and your muscles tense up. This leads to a heightened state of alertness. Stress hormones flood your system, preparing you to confront the danger (fight) or escape from it (flight). This is where the term “fight or flight” comes from.
Common symptoms of retirement anxiety:
- Chest tightness
- Hyperventilation/Panic attacks
- Bellyaches
- Heart Palpitations
- Headaches
- Inability to concentrate
- Insomnia
- Muscle Tension
- Irritability
Finding Calm: 6 Natural Remedies for Retirement Anxiety
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Anxiety is a common part of life, but it can hinder our enjoyment. Fortunately, natural remedies can promote relaxation and support overall health without the side effects of prescription medications.
1. Exercise
If you’re feeling anxious, try moving your body. Exercise can boost your mood. Dancing, running, walking, hiking, and gardening are great ways to relieve stress. If you can’t go outside, don’t worry. There are many ways to exercise indoors.
The internet makes it easy to work out at home. You can find various exercise options on YouTube. You can also bookmark my article “Best Yoga and Workout Videos” for suitable workouts.
2. Yoga
Did you know that yoga is a natural remedy for anxiety? A study in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine says it reduces stress better than walking. I enjoy walking, but yoga is my go-to stress reliever.
I practice three to four times a week. It helps with my strength and flexibility. Plus, the calming effect of the mind/body connection is unsurpassed. Getting on the mat can be challenging. However, I never regretted it. It leaves me feeling fantastic!
3. Lavender
Lavender has long been valued for its soothing qualities. It is often used to help with insomnia, anxiety, and depression, serving as a natural remedy for stress. Research indicates that inhaling lavender has a mild calming effect, making it effective for reducing anxiety at bedtime.
To enhance relaxation, consider using a lavender diffuser in your bedroom or placing a cotton ball dipped in lavender oil inside your pillowcase for a pleasant aroma as you sleep. For more insights on lavender’s benefits, check the article from the University of Maryland Medical Center.
4. Herbal Teas
Looking to relax and unwind? Teas made with peppermint, lemon balm, and chamomile are excellent choices for relieving stress and anxiety, especially during retirement.
**Peppermint tea** boasts a delightful aroma and a pleasant menthol flavor that most people enjoy. Its overall sedative properties can promote a sense of calm. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory qualities of peppermint tea help lower blood pressure and body temperature, further aiding relaxation.
**Lemon balm**, a member of the mint family, has been used since the Middle Ages to alleviate stress and anxiety. In traditional Austrian medicine, it is employed to treat various ailments, including gastrointestinal issues, nervous system disorders, and liver problems. Lemon balm is also recognized as a sleep aid and digestive helper. A cup of lemon balm tea may be just what you need to soothe your nerves.
**Chamomile tea** is widely regarded for its ability to encourage relaxation and sleep. Many researchers believe that chamomile may function similarly to benzodiazepines, which are psychoactive drugs prescribed to reduce anxiety and promote sleep. I prefer the calming effects of chamomile tea as a natural remedy for anxiety, rather than resorting to medications that can have adverse effects, such as feelings of turmoil, difficulty concentrating, agoraphobia, and increased anxiety.
5. Laughing Yoga
This natural remedy for retirement anxiety is so easy it ain’t funny! We’ve all heard the expression that laughter is the best medicine. But, how can something so simple be the best? Laughing releases endorphins (the feel-good hormones), and other opioid peptides into the brain. Activating your body’s opiate receptors produces an analgesic (calming ) effect. Consequently, you feel better.
Spontaneous social laughing is great. However, you can get the same mood-enhancing benefits by laughing alone. Laugh in the bathroom, in the kitchen, in your car! For best results, try laughing for at least one minute. This laughing yoga guru was my first experience with laughing yoga. Hopefully, his video will give you the giggles as well.
6. Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is a natural herb that helps balance the body and relieve stress. Used for centuries, it grows in the dry regions of India and is often recommended to boost the immune system. A study has shown that Ashwagandha root extract improves stress resistance and enhances quality of life.
After a challenging menopausal episode, I sought a natural way to balance my hormones instead of using traditional hormone replacement therapy. I discovered Organic India’s Ashwagandha supplements and decided to try them. Almost immediately, I felt more balanced and less irritable.
If you want to feel relaxed without relying on synthetic medications, I recommend checking out Ashwagandha supplements on Amazon.
Conclusion
Anxiety is real and worrying about your retirement plans can cause a lot of stress. As a result, your body produces a variety of unpleasant symptoms that make you feel ill and, or keep you awake at night.
While planning for retirement is good, retirement anxiety is not. Instead of taking pharmaceuticals with horrendous side effects to calm your nerves, there are alternative natural remedies that work very well to relieve retirement anxiety.
Related Articles You May Like:
- Laughter for a Joyful Retirement
- Unleash the Power of Play for Older Adults
- How Yoga Relieves Stress and Anxiety in Older Adults
Last updated: 11/02/24
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We all deal with anxiety and stress at some time or another. I would love to hear how you deal with it. Please share your natural remedies for anxiety in the comments below so that we may all benefit from them. And before you go, please take a moment to subscribe to our newsletter, and like us on Facebook!