Universal, necessary and with a physiological translation in our body: A workshop at the Villalba General University Hospital teaches the elderly how to manage emotions.
As time passes, our body changes: we become less agile, more dependent. So that aging does not affect the mental health of the elderly, managing emotions is a key piece of the puzzle. But,as?
From the Villalba General University Hospitalthe Dr. Nuria El Kadaoui, head of the Geriatrics Servicepromotes control of emotions through a workshop that gives voice to patients and their experiences.
In an interview for EFEsalud, El Kadaoui delves into the value of this type of workshop and encourages patients to participate in them.
The three keys to managing emotions in the elderly
The passage of time takes its toll on all of us. And precisely for this reason, knowing adapt to new situations that begin to develop with age is a key piece.
manage emotions y do not accumulate those that are negative They are the points on which we must lean when we reach an age.
Dr. El Kadaoui points out the communication as the basic concept, at the same time that it facilitates a series of tips which are divided into the following points:
- Attention. Many times older people do not receive the care they require, they are isolated. Let’s change it!
- Company. The expert indicates loneliness as one of the main concerns in the elderly. Friends and family are lost along the way, as are physical and mental capacities, making the elderly feel more vulnerable.
- Word. The human has an added treasure that other species do not have: the word. And the word is absolutely healing. Talking about how we feel helps us manage our emotions.
The emotional and the physical go hand in hand.
Emotions are universal, necessary, and managing them can lead to real health problems.
“Emotion has a physiological translation in our body,” explains the expert.
The head of geriatrics at the Villalba hospital assures that there is a direct relationship between emotion and health. What’s more, there is an unquestionable digestive expression of many emotions, such as nervousness or restlessness.
Uncontrollable and prolonged anger or sadness over time can lead to depression or anxiety. And, in addition, constant anxiety can cause a rise in tension in older people.
The question is that, in our body, everything is connected. Letting an emotion, still necessary and universal, control us and be the predominant one, is, to say the least, dangerous.
a different mindset
But, Why is it so difficult for older people to handle these emotions with the same ease as young people?
Beyond the feeling of burden that many develop when faced with the loss of abilities, Nuria El Kadaoui points out that it is a problem of culture.
Older people have lived in a time where the emotional was neglected, relegated in importance. Today’s concern for emotional and mental health did not exist. The priority was work, necessary for survival, so the emotional was borne in silence.
The direct consequence of this type of practice is the lack of knowledge that they present when it comes to Express and understand the emotional.
“I feel bad but I don’t know what’s wrong with me“Is the complaint that the doctor usually comes across in consultations. Because many older people are not able to assimilate and communicate what they feel.
The elderly and emotions: the importance of knowing how to manage them
In addition to the advice already provided, the fact of organizing emotional workshops for older patients is a resource that works. After all, older people find a safe, comforting space where they can express themselves, ask questions and be understood.
“Emotions play a fundamental role in the processes of adaptation to old age,” says the doctor.
Facade of the General University Hospital of VillalbaFor this reason, at the General University Hospital of Villalba they celebrate this type of conference. And, also for this reason, Nuria El Kadaoui, as the main speaker of them, advocates the extension of these practices to other centers.