I used to say that the #1 complaint I heard from students starting yoga was back pain. I may now have to amend that, because mental health is quickly taking over, in the forms of anxiety, stress, depression, and impairment.
Maybe the increase is because we've spent the past year and a half dealing with a pandemic, plus political and social unrest, plus economic uncertainty for many. Or maybe it's been there all along and people are finally feeling Ok to talk about it.
In the classes I teach at addiction treatment centers, which is probably 80% people in their 20s and 30s, anxiety and depression is what they almost all have in common. I also hear often from my family, friends, and students about feeling stressed about anything from finances to health to kids, or just trying to juggle too much.
We all have concerns about loss of memory and cognitive brain function, for ourselves and those we love.
I'm not a mental health professional, but I will always share resources that I feel are useful. Breathing techniques and meditation for general anxiety is my go-to. Memory exercises and movements that we do in yoga class can help maintain cognitive function.
However, these are not a cure-all for serious mental health issues. Don't hesitate to seek out help from a professional - years ago I got mental health counseling and it made a HUGE difference in my life!
Speaking of which, I wanted to share this resource from MemoryCare.com, whose mission is to "support older adults living with memory impairment and their families." According to their website:
”Dementia, and specifically Alzheimer’s, is a serious, growing problem. In fact, 1 out of every 10 adults over the age of 65 has Alzheimer’s dementia. As Boynton Beach’s senior population continues to grow (14.77% growth between 2014 and 2019), so does the concern about aging and the risk of cognitive impairment.”
The site provides guides with memory care information in your area. Check it out:
https://www.memorycare.com/memory-care-in-florida/
Take care of your brain, it's the only one you have!