Passport, biological, psychological age…
Life on the slope
Don't die before you die! – this motto of the poet is used by psychotherapists in their own way
– Irina Fedorovna, one of the writers once said, not without grace: "Every person chooses his own age." From your point of view, can this motto have a psychotherapeutic effect on someone who believes in it?
– I think so. The fact is that psychologists sometimes encounter such phenomena in their practical work. And it turns out that there are people who have a sense of self of a certain age. It can be more than the real age or vice versa – less. The wonderful actress Alla Sergeevna Demidova wrote that she felt forty years old all her adult life. I know a man of a respectable age who has repeatedly told me: "No matter how amazing, but I always feel 38 years old. It seems to me that this is some kind of my basic age. When I was younger and when I got older than this age, I still continue to feel myself in this age range."
Of course, not everyone has this feeling. In any case, unfortunately, a person's perception of his age in the context of his whole life has not been sufficiently studied in psychology. The characteristic of human age is possible from different positions. Let's say there is a chronological (passport) age – this is the period that you have lived at the moment. There is a biological age, which is determined not by passport data, but by the state of various body systems and the rate of their age-related changes. That is, it is possible to find out the biological age of a person by a set of biological parameters reflecting the state of the cardiovascular, endocrine, and other systems of the body. Different body systems change with age at different rates. Someone begins to have changes in the endocrine system earlier, someone in the cardiovascular system.
There is also the concept of psychological age, which is not scientifically developed enough. This is how a person feels at a given moment in life. So far, the analysis of these states is reduced to metaphorical descriptions, such as "cheerfulness of spirit", "clarity of thought", etc.
Summing up, we can say: if biological age is ahead of chronological age, we are dealing with accelerated aging. If everything looks the other way around, we are talking about the fact that a person ages more slowly and more successfully.
It is important to understand that each of us ages individually. Of course, there are general patterns of this stage of life, but personally, the quality of old age of each of us is influenced by how we lived the previous years of our lives. In this context, it is very important how an elderly person uses the experience of previous stages of his life, and how much he has learned to use consciously or unwittingly developed self-regulation strategies to combat the changes that occur in us over the years. If a person finds in himself and for himself various ways of self-regulation and uses them, then this leads to a harmonious feeling of himself in old age. Both in youth and in aging, we can be healthy or endure diseases, which, of course, affects the body, psyche, life expectancy and the feeling of age that you asked about.
– Can we assume at the same time that there are national, ethnic features of aging, age, attitude to old age?
- of course. Because a person and his psyche are determined by biological, psychological and social factors. And this is the way of life, habits, rules, stereotypes and even prejudices of the environment in which the life of each of us takes place. All this cannot be discounted. On the other hand, there are biological factors that cause, say, a genetic predisposition to some diseases, and this can eventually manifest itself both in a resident of a highly developed country and in someone who lives in a less comfortable environment for existence.
But, of course, there is also another thing: a society that carefully and responsibly treats the aging of each of its citizens, makes people's old age prosperous, secure and, if you want, joyful. Both material and moral conditions play a huge role here, as well as the level of psychological culture of society.
In addition, if we talk about national peculiarities, we can recall that in Eastern cultures (and in Russia such regions are fully represented), the attitude towards the elderly is traditionally remarkable. In a person who has lived a long life, others a priori see a sage, adviser, mentor. Hence respect, attention and even obedience. Moreover, this is also observed in relation to those elders who do not possess these important qualities for their age at all and are not the bearer of the wisdom of their people. We can say that with such traditions, both young and mature people feel confident, knowing that the same respect and understanding awaits them in old age.
– Does psychology as a science recognize and comment on such a concept as "beautiful old age"?
– This concept is connected, of course, not only with the appearance of an old person, but rather is determined by the characteristics of the personality and the deeds and achievements of a person. If a person has been developing all the previous stages of his existence, consciously working on himself, then in old age he lives interestingly, actively, looking for some new opportunities, classes, contacts. This includes expanding the range of interests and achieving new real goals. Of course, a sudden change in lifestyle at a certain age is already undesirable. But those who have gained wisdom and experience over the years understand this themselves. The main thing is that such people are not led by life, but by them. The fact that a personality can develop until the end of life has been proven by all studies. This is the first. And secondly, if earlier there was always an equal sign between old age and illness, that is, the attitude towards old age as a disease prevailed, today this idea is beginning to change in society. Although this is not an easy process. For example, a strange expediency often works: is it worth making significant efforts to treat those who are already ending their lives anyway?
– Do you want to talk about it?
– This, of course, is fundamentally the wrong position. It cannot be justified either professionally or morally. But in our society, it seems to me, the situation is not the best with the condemnation of the immorality of such an attitude towards sick old people. In addition to the decline in morals, many social problems affect the elderly, turning them into outcasts, superfluous family members, etc.
– But often we can observe the activity of elderly people in the public field. Take the same rallies. It would seem that passionarity, activity goes away over the years, but some elderly people find some compensators for themselves when they suddenly go to the square to demand or defend something…
– It all depends on the individual. The understanding of the prospects of life in the elderly is different. It is limited by the duration of the rest of your life, and therefore you need to set yourself real, doable tasks. But the sense of duty to relatives, friends, to oneself – it does not disappear anywhere. So it forces some to bring home, family affairs to mind, to find meanings and goals in this. And there are those whose consciousness has always been included in public spheres, and this has not disappeared either. And such old activists can find satisfaction in a rally, a meeting, a meeting with a deputy, in public criticism of the current order of things…
– It is clear that your science cannot improve social conditions for the elderly, raise pensions. But still, what is the role of psychology, psychiatry in maintaining this layer of society in a normal psychological, spiritual state?
– Psychiatrists are engaged in the treatment of mental illnesses at a late age. There is even such a direction in psychiatry – gerontopsychiatry. Psychiatrists treat the entire spectrum of mental illnesses in patients at a late age. An important feature of the treatment of patients at a late age is an integrated approach to the patient. Because old age is an age when the somatic and mental spheres of a person are in close interaction. Therefore, the exacerbation of any chronic disease (stomach, kidneys, heart) leads to a deterioration in the mental state of the patient. And vice versa – if you treat a chronic somatic disease, then the mental status of the patient improves.
There is, of course, a psychological component to the problems of aging. This means that there are psychologists, although there are clearly not enough of them, who work with elderly patients. They are well aware of the psychological features of normal and pathological aging, possess methods of diagnosing variants of normal and painful aging, conduct correctional and rehabilitation classes, train memory and other functions, as well as other forms of mental health support for the elderly and old people.
By the way, cognitive training is also necessary for a healthy aging person. This is especially important for those over 50. From this age line, memory, attention, and thinking training are already required. This should be a regular additional load, which Americans figuratively call "brain massage".
– We no longer cause audience laughter phrases from American films like "Have you been to your therapist today?" or "Do you have a problem? Do you want to talk about it?"
– I don't want to say that in this sense the problem of psychological assistance has reached American proportions. But, despite the fact that not everyone has a personal psychologist, even in Moscow, the possibility of receiving psychological help is becoming more and more real. This is expressed primarily in the fact that people are no longer afraid to go to an appointment with a psychologist. Of course, not everyone will go to a psychiatrist for treatment. There remains a rather persistent and unfair prejudice against psychiatric treatment. But many people began to seek psychological help for themselves and for children.
The situation is more complicated with older people. They are very deprived of psychological help and often come to the polyclinic for it – to a therapist, a neurologist.
We had a successful scientific program when a special office for the elderly was organized in an ordinary district polyclinic, which we named with a sign "psychoneurologist" in order not to frighten anyone. Therapists and other specialists mainly referred elderly people with mental problems to this office. Psychiatrists and psychologists found depressive disorders and other symptoms of mental distress in them. Psychiatrists and psychologists worked carefully and attentively with patients, engaged in treatment, psychocorrection, psychotherapy. Elderly patients really liked the attitude towards them, they noted a significant improvement in their quality of life. But then, unfortunately, this office was closed, and the work was interrupted. At the same time, some of the patients came to our outpatient clinic for a long time after that.
– Was communication important to them?
– Communication too. But the main thing was still professional clinical and psychological assistance. We consulted them, prescribed medications, psychologists engaged in cognitive training and other methods of psychotherapy with them. And the fact that they came back to us and highly appreciated the help they received speaks about the effectiveness of our work and the need to develop an outpatient gerontological service.
– I have no doubt. You're experts. But when there are none nearby, their place is taken by charlatans, healers of everything and everything. Some simply portray miracle doctors, others, through clever manipulations, rub themselves into trust, and then, you know what happens…
– Yes, it is really widespread. And no one seriously solves this problem. I can talk about it as a psychologist. This is due to the fact that many elderly people have reduced critical capabilities. They become very trusting. Vigilance weakens, faith in miraculous cures and easy ways to win something, to get cheap and effective medicine increases. When elderly people are deprived of the opportunity to receive high-quality medical care, they voluntarily or involuntarily have faith in a wonderful pill for all diseases. But it is impossible to convince a reasonable person who is aging actively, critically, with such psychological tricks.
– On the other hand, young people also fall for these frauds! And all because they are poorly educated, gullible. I have inquisitive students who read a lot of modern literature. A student comes with the news: "Have you heard? Found a cure for aging..."
– And I have to remind you that aging is the most complex systemic process of age–related changes in all body systems and no miracle pill can slow it down, much less stop it. It is much more correct to say that you need to prepare for an active successful old age from a young age. The level of education received in youth, the ability to achieve goals, life optimism – all this determines the quality of old age, which is confirmed by a huge number of examples.
"That's right. But at the same time, it is impossible to bypass the issue that occupies all people: what happens to our memory with age?
– There are changes with memory that are characteristic of other mental functions. As we age, the pace and volume of mental activity decrease, which affects the amount of memorization of new information, and forgetfulness of current events increases. That is, any healthy elderly person, as a rule, admits that his memory has become worse. Moreover, the memory of the past remains good, but the events that just happened are remembered worse. But this does not interfere with normal life. Older people realize that they forget the elements of their current life quite quickly. Therefore, they use a variety of compensatory techniques – they make notes, put things in a certain place, reduce the pace of activity, train memory. And it really lends itself to training within certain limits. But, I repeat, the memory of the past practically does not suffer with normal aging. And arbitrary memory, too. When an elderly person sets himself the task of remembering something, he succeeds well. Yes, it takes more time and effort, but the result justifies it.
– Some elderly people, for example, learn poetry…
– Very good. These are the elements of cognitive training. It is also useful to work with the memory of the past: to recall events, details, dates. It is also useful to train memory for current events, which is especially susceptible to age-related changes. Therefore, everything that concerns current memorization – poems, crosswords, puzzles, riddles, problem solving, and so on – undoubtedly benefits. Writing, reading, counting, memorizing – all this verbal activity with words is extremely useful. The main thing is to do it in reasonable volumes, preferring what you like more (with pleasure!) and what makes sense for the person himself. And everything should be done slowly. If you drive more quietly, you will remember more, I would paraphrase a well–known proverb this way. The rate of mental activity decreases with age for everyone. And an impulsive desire for speed leads to mistakes, which, naturally, irritate and can turn away from really useful activities, reduce self-esteem, etc.
I want to emphasize that, of course, there is active and successful aging. A lot depends on how a person has lived his life, how he has prepared for old age, what he is doing in it, what threads connect him with others and with himself.
In my opinion, in the scale of values of any outgoing generation, the first place should be and, I am sure, there is a sense of family, kind. This priority is born out of a feeling, an understanding of what you can still do for your family and friends. Feelings decide a lot, of which the main thing is love. Those who grow up in an atmosphere of warmth, family harmony, feel the love of not only parents, but also grandparents, grow up psychologically more protected and mentally healthy. The role of the older generation in the mental health of subsequent generations of the family is very great.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru23.10.2012