I am scared and its giving me anxiety!!

Just a little history, I am 61 and I live alone. I only have one friend that checks on me when she gets a chance. My family is about an hour away but they would not be willing to help me in anyway. I keep to myself mainly because of my depression and so I don't have or know any of my neighbors. I also attend church, irregularly must I say and I meet people at studies but really haven't bonded with anyone. I guess again it is my depresson.

Just last year I started worrying about something happening to me and me not being able to get help, call 911 if I had to because I might not be able to. I was thinking about getting one of those alert things but not sure how that would work for me. Then I worry about someone not finding me, and my kittie starving to death. Plus the fact that they would have no one to contact or find any info on me at all, unless they rummaged around here.

Furthermore on the opposite spectrum I know I don't eat well or get enough exercise, and I feel like I am taking advantage of my health and sooner or later it will catch up to me. I am even starting to get very nervous driving anywhere, but before it never bothered me to drive.

This has been weighing on my mind quite a bit and really don't know what to do. I don't even have an emergency contact. The friend that checks on me now and then doesn't know me well enough to be there. She is a very busy person, has alot of friends but does worry about me.

My fear is taking over my thoughts and playing havoc on my life right now.

I don't know what I am looking for here but I just felt I needed some support, or maybe some suggestons even.

Well... I'm 69. I am married. So I'm not alone. But otherwise we have no extended family & I have no friends or even acquaintances really. My wife has a couple of casual friends she sees periodically. I don't drive anymore & I don't leave the house except to go out with my wife when it's necessary. We do have a small dog we walk daily. It does seem to me that the older I get, the smaller my world becomes... & the scarier too... which is one reason I so seldom leave home.

We live in a townhome. It's not big. But it's large enough for the two of us. Were I to be left alone (heaven forfend) it would be too big for me to want to live here alone. So I think I would probably sell it & move into some sort of senior rental type situation. Where I live, those sorts of things are popping up all over the place. There are also a lot of in-home services for seniors. We don't need them yet. But I suppose we may at some point if we hang on long enough.

Anyway, I don't know as I have any particular suggestions for you. I can appreciate how you're feeling. Especially if you're home a lot by yourself, I know how fears can play on your mind. I hope you will be able to find a pathway to inner peace.

Skeezyks!!

AAww ty for always making sure u answer my posts, it means alot to me that u care.

Anxiety is horrid and it's the kind of thing that kind of tends to dwell in the darkness (keeping it hidden).

My mum used to live on her own and refused to live anywhere else. She did have people pop in and do some things but there was lots of times when she was alone and we were afraid she would have a fall. So she wore a personal alarm (like a necklace) that was linked into a phone system so if she had a fall she could press the button and get help. Every day some-one from this service would contact her to see if she was okay. Are there personal alarm systems in your location that you could access?

Given that you are involved in a church go and see the pastor/priest and or pastoral care person and let them know that you need some kind of support. Please reach out. Maybe there are others in the same boat as you?

Do not be afraid to ask if there are any support services that you can access via your doctor.

Loneliness is a real curse in the modern society we live in. You aren't on your own despite the fact that it feels like it.

I live alone, too. And it worries me, too. But I also live in a metropolitan area of the USA and once when I got stung by some yellow jackets and started blacking out I called 911 and they were here within 10 minutes. They had some medicine to stop an allergic reaction with them on the ambulance, took me to hospital, and I got a taxi to take me home after they were finished treating me, and knew I would be OK.

The neighbors saw the ambulance, of course, and came by when I got home. There's never been a repeat, but I feel OK that the emergency medical people, or other medical people, know what to do with older people who do not have people close to them who live close by.

Also agree with possum, you are not alone in this situation. It's increasingly common in the modern society.

Is there a support group (perhaps a NAMI Connection group) that you can attend?

Hi Hairball How are you doing now?

Can you get one of those buttons to put around your neck to summon help? They can give some comfort. Also, try to get to know some people around you if you can.

As far as feeling alone, I think pets help give some comfort and companionship.

Hi Hairball, I could have written your post myself. I am 77 and have no friends and only family is my brother who is not well and doesn't live close enough to visit. My only friend (we've been friends since we were 13) has Alzheimer's. I woke up at 4 this morning anxious and depressed and worrying about what would happen to my dear dog if I died. And what would happen if I had a stroke, no one would miss me. No one.

I wanted to go to church this morning but did not make it. I don't leave the house accept to go to doctor once in awhile or the market or drugstore. Even those things now cause me such anxiety. I have to do something. I guess this is a first step. I don't write very well or much righ t now, the words just don't come I'm kind of at my lowest today and have been crying a lot but I just wanted to tell you that just knowing someone else is out there who would understand me at least somewhat is somehow comforting. Oh, that sounds so very selfish, I hope you understand. On a day when I am not so low I would love to talk with you. I am feeling all jumbled up so I better quit writing now.

Hi Hairball, tried to send you PM, forgot I can't do that until I've posted 5 times. Thank you for response. I will try to get my 5 posts done soon.

{{{{{ Hair~! }}}}} {{{{{ dztgirl~! }}}}} {{{{{Skeez~! }}}}}

...me too, i've worn that button, for 10 yrs, never needed it. hands of god, now~~~~

Hi Hairball. So sorry you are feeling so alone. I know the feeling. Are you in the Green Bay area? I'm up in the U.P.

You should get one of those lifeline things. My mom got hers via the local elder authority-free. It worked great. Do you know she didn't even have to press the button. She had that but it "sensed" a fall and then also every 24 hours it would omit a loud beep. If the button wasn't pressed within 15 minutes they would dispatch help.

Another option.. my mom had someone do errands for her who came 2x per week. Really help make sure she didn't get hurt or something.

Hi, ya'll, I just turned 60. I don't have any concerns yet about something happening and me not being able to get help. I am still active when I want to be. though not too active due to my weight mostly and depression and C-PTSD. I am at that point of just getting used to the fact that I have entered a new phase of my life. and it is not fun for me. I am trying to put my life together again after many years of trauma and depression. I'm more in the area of not being able to get help now from my son (who lives with me) for house repairs, car repairs, stuff I need that I can't do myself. Thanks for listening.