Woody Allen, with his usual humor and intelligence, said: “Life is a deadly sexually transmitted disease.” This phrase gives us a very real dimension of what it means to grow old and how unnatural it is to fight against the passage of time and the fear of growing old.
In recent years, cosmetic surgery has become very popular, as people try to erase wrinkles and the signs of age simply out of fear. But what if we accepted ourselves as we are and enjoyed every moment instead of thinking so much about our appearance?
It is obvious that we have to take care of ourselves, eat healthily, and exercise, but we have seen actors and actresses change their faces so much to avoid aging that they look like another person, they have completely lost their identity. Why are we so afraid of aging?
There is a moment when we are walking down the street and a teenager asks us for something, addressing us as “sir” or “ma’am”. In a second everything changes, because we are aware of the passage of time and that we are no longer the young people we thought we were, even though we maintain our youthful spirit intact.
Gerascophobia: the fear of aging
A phobia is an irrational fear that can affect our quality of life and cause significant anxiety. People who suffer from gerascophobia are afraid of aging and live in fear of the deterioration that occurs as the years go by.
This happens because in many cases, old age is associated with negative aspects such as illness, loss of mobility, change in appearance and wrinkles on the face, and, in general, a worsening of health.
Gerascophobia usually begins to develop in our thirties, when some signs of the passage of time begin to appear, and in certain cases, it can lead to a certain amount of anxiety.
There are several reasons for this irrational fear of aging, such as associating old age only with negative aspects. We forget the learning and wisdom that comes with the passing of the years.
Another cause of this fear may be the image conveyed by the media or the value that exists in our culture about youth. And one of the most important causes may be the fear of being alone and defenseless during the last years of our life.
Reasons not to be afraid of the passing of the years
There is no doubt that the passing of the years brings us experience and wisdom that cannot be acquired in any other way. We are talking about positive elements that deserve recognition for their great value and that are precisely what we should value when we get older.
Here are some reasons why you shouldn’t be afraid of getting older and why you should learn to see the positive side of this golden age:
The value of wisdom
As we get older, we acquire experiences and skills that allow us to deal differently with the ups and downs of life. The wisdom that comes with the passage of time allows us to make decisions, accept fears, and remain calm in difficult situations.
Learning to know who you are
With the experience we acquire throughout our lives, we learn to know who we are, to know ourselves, and to manage our defects and our virtues.
We learn to be more authentic because we leave behind the fear of what other people will say or think. Knowing ourselves in depth is one of the most complicated tasks we will do throughout our existence, but also one of the most rewarding.
Feel comfortable
When we are young, we care a lot about our appearance, what we say, and what we do. But, as the years go by, we learn to love and value ourselves, to live in peace with ourselves. Our self-esteem becomes solid and we deeply respect ourselves to feel more comfortable.