ILLORIN (Sundiata Post) – Dr. Salihu Olaitan, a Consultant Psychiatrist at Kwara State University Teaching Hospital (KWASUTH), has advised retirees to seek medical help for retirement anxiety disorder.
Olaitan gave the advice on Wednesday in Ilorin during an interview
He described retirement anxiety as an emotion of concern or worry experienced by retirees or people with the prospects of retirement.
According to him, this can include concerns about how to fill their time, financial worries and feeling a loss of identity.
“Recent research has highlighted it as a significant and growing issue, which should be addressed properly.
“Rather than looking forward to retirement, a lot of people experience feelings of anxiety at the prospect. Thisis fuelled by both emotional and financial concerns.
“In diagnosing the condition, we look at the things responsible for that anxiety at that particular time.
“We look at the drivers behind these concerns and what practical things you can do to help overcome retirement anxiety.
“You have worked for several years, and you look back that you’ve given about 20 or 25 years of your life in government service or otherwise.
“But as you’re almost approaching retirement age, the salary you’re getting is going to stop or even reduce significantly; depression may set in,” he said.
The expert also observed that some prospective retirees, who still had young children to cater for, were more prone to anxiety or depression.
According to him, the implication of this, is that you will still have most of the children at the secondary school level or primary school or even just about to enter the university.
“Some may even have more than one wife, who still has younger children. So, if you think about all those responsibilities, anxiety may set in.
“It is normal for people to have the anticipatory fear of how to cope, but it is more fulfilling to seek help when necessary.
“Some people can sometimes become too depressed and overwhelmed with financial difficulties, which may in turn, create a serious emotional burden.
“If all those things are not resolved, individuals are likely to come down with various forms of mental health challenges, ranging from anxiety to depression.
“It could even lead to psychosis related illnesses. But, the risk factor for that will be those burden relating to the fear of that retirement.
“It will be the factors that are responsible for it. And in such a case, you just have to sit the person down for counselling,” he said.
Olaitan stressed the need for such people to undergo “talk therapy”, and also have practical solutions to retirement anxiety.
He advised people to plan years ahead for their retirement and ensure they had a means to take care of their families.
The expert also enjoined people not to suffer in silence but seek professional help, if they felt an overwhelming sense of depression. (NAN)
