Generally, feelings of anxiety in the elderly increase due to
physical limitations and personal stresses, which increase their
feelings of vulnerability. The extent of anxiety depends on the
amount of adjustment the individual is going through and the
resources available to help them cope. One source of anxiety is
aging. Many elderly people fear sickness, dependency, and
potential poverty, causing extreme anxiety. Panic attacks are
physical sensations of extreme fear triggered by an anxious
panicky thought. These anxious, panicky thoughts can come from
the problems the elderly face, such as the fear of being alone,
mistrust of others, and physical illness. Some older people
openly express their anxiety and feelings of panic, while others
may try to protect themselves by blocking out anything they feel
is threatening - even the help of others. These types of people
will adhere to a rigid way of thinking and living in order to
provoke as little change as possible, therefore keeping their
anxiety at bay. For mor