Excessive worry

Older adults with anxiety disorder often tend to worry excessively about money, their own health, the safety of their children and grandchildren, or potential future events. They may constantly ask questions, seek reassurance from family members, want frequent health check-ups, or become overly cautious in all activities.

Unlike normal worry, which usually arises in response to specific problems, excessive worry in older adults is persistent and often not based on reality. Many individuals are aware that they are worrying too much but find themselves unable to stop thinking about these concerns.

Sleep disorders

Anxiety disorder stimulates the nervous system, making it difficult to relax and fall asleep. As a result, older adults with anxiety often experience sleep problems such as tossing and turning, difficulty falling asleep, fragmented sleep, waking up during the night and struggling to fall back asleep, staying awake all night, or waking up too early in the morning.

Older adults with anxiety often have trouble sleeping or suffer from insomnia. This leads to fatigue and low energy throughout the day, making it difficult to perform basic activities. In addition to affecting physical health, insomnia increases the risk of depression, memory decline, and creates a vicious cycle in which anxiety causes sleep problems, and poor sleep further intensifies anxiety.

Tension, restlessness, and irritability

Another common sign of anxiety disorder in older adults is a change in behavior and emotions, manifested as unusual restlessness, tension, or irritability over minor issues. These behaviors are often mistaken for moodiness due to aging, when in fact they may be a response of the nervous system disrupted by prolonged anxiety.

When symptoms such as headaches, chest tightness, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, hand tremors, dizziness, diarrhea, or nausea appear, both older adults and their families often think of physical health problems and overlook psychological factors. Many elderly people visit multiple doctors but fail to find any specific medical condition.

In fact, these symptoms, which seem related to the heart, respiratory system, or digestive system, can stem from anxiety disorder. Unlike common perceptions of mental illness, anxiety disorder is not only expressed through negative emotions but can also “hide” as somatic dysfunction.

Withdrawal and social avoidance

When experiencing excessive anxiety, older adults tend to isolate themselves to avoid triggers that cause worry. They may refuse to participate in social activities they once enjoyed, feel reluctant to go out, and avoid meeting friends or family. This withdrawal and avoidance not only reduce social interaction but also worsen anxiety, leading to feelings of loneliness and despair.

Hoang Yen Specialized Psychiatric Clinic – A place supporting older adults with anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorder is a type of mental health condition that affects physical health, increases the risk of cognitive decline and depression, and reduces the overall quality of life in older adults. Recognizing the five warning signs above enables patients and their families to proactively seek help from psychiatrists or psychologists for timely intervention and treatment.

Currently, Hoang Yen Specialized Psychiatric Clinic is a trusted address for treating mental health disorders, particularly anxiety and depression in older adults. The clinic is designed to be quiet and private, helping patients feel safe and heard — especially important for older adults who may be hesitant to discuss psychological issues.

The quality of care at Hoang Yen Specialized Psychiatric Clinic is guaranteed by experienced doctors in the field of elderly mental health, including Dr. Nguyen Thi Phuong Loan, Specialist Level II, former Head of the Elderly Health Department at the National Institute of Mental Health, Bach Mai Hospital, with over 30 years of experience.