Senior Connections SeniorConnections Oct 19

SUBMISSIONS Senior Connections welcomes submitted items of any kind that may be appropriate for our readership. Contact us at [email protected] �� 8 Senior Ten unusual phobias Social isolation, anxiety, paranoia, insomnia, trembling, nausea, clammy hands, hyperventilation—phobias give rise to a host of unpleasant physical and psychological symptoms. You’re probably already familiar with conditions such as arachnophobia (fear of spiders), xenophobia (fear of foreigners) and agoraphobia (fear of large, public spaces), but have you ever heard of these ten rather uncommon fears? 1. Agyrophobia: fear of crossing the street 2. Anuptaphobia: fear of staying single 3. Arachibutyrophobia: fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth 4. Carpophobia: fear of wrists 5. Catoptrophobia: fear of mirrors 6. Coprastasophobia: fear of constipation 7. Coulrophobia: fear of clowns 8. Gymnophobia: fear of nudity 9. Mageirocophobia: fear of cooking 10. Pentheraphobia: fear of your mother-in-law TREATING PHOBIAS While many might seem absurd to the average person, phobias develop involuntarily and cause a great deal of emotional distress. If you have a phobia, whatever it may be, consult a professional for help; he or she will be able to offer therapy or prescribe an effective treatment plan to help free you from you fear. Connections October 2019 Alzheimer’s disease: myths and truths Alzheimer’s is a disease that can inspire fear and anxiety as we imagine ourselves or loved ones in its grip. To combat this fear, we can gain a better understanding of the illness by dispelling some of the myths that surround it. Myth: Having a parent, brother, or sister with Alzheimer’s means my risk of developing this ill- ness is greater. Truth: In fact, a relatively small percentage of cases involve an inherited form of the disease. Myth: When a person suffers memory loss, it means they have Alzheimer’s. Truth: It is normal to have memory loss as we age. However, if these memory lapses cause difﬁ culty in performing familiar tasks, problems with commu- nication, disorientation, poor judgement, and prob- lems with abstract thinking, it is advisable to consult a doctor to discuss the cause of these symptoms. Myth: Alzheimer’s can be prevented. Truth: Unfortunately, there is still no treatment for this illness. However, staying physically active, eat- ing well, reducing stress, stimulating the brain, and maintaining a social network can reduce the risk. Myth: Once you have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s you lose all quality of life. Truth: On the contrary, many people lead active and interesting lives for many years after they have been diagnosed with this illness. Myth: Only older people can get Alzheimer’s. Truth: Of course, age is an important risk factor, but not everybody contracts the disease as they age. Senior Connections HJ.COM

Senior Connections SeniorConnections Oct 19 | Page 8