Many people look forward to retirement, but for some, retirement is also an anxiety-inducing thought. It can be difficult to balance a low income with high living costs.
News24 have talked to Victoria Milosevskasenior physician in psychiatry at VM Läkarkonsult, who shares his best tips for managing stress over his retirement finances.
Pensioner? How to deal with loneliness: “The phone doesn’t ring”
“Should one eat a varied diet or pay the rent?”
Viktorija Milosevska runs her own clinic and during her professional career has helped both adults and children with their mental health.
She tells Nyheter24 that many pensioners need psychiatric care, but that many do not have the opportunity for it.
Due to tight finances, they may have to choose between seeking psychiatric care or buying food.
– There are some who cannot balance all the parts in their life. They cannot afford to buy medicine, pay rent and get treatment for their mental illness. They may have to ask themselves whether they should eat a varied diet or pay the rent that month, she says and continues:
– It can feel shameful to talk about your finances. It can cause you to isolate yourself and become passive.
Many people find the pension difficult to talk about. Photo: Henrik Montgomery/TT
Fat lump of 40 tonnes in the drain – had to be cut away by divers
How to deal with stress over finances
For a more secure financial situation, Viktorija Milosevska recommends starting the savings in good time.
– If the pension is not enough, it is very difficult. What you can do is try to move to a smaller home and save money with what you have. But what is long-term and good is long-term planning.
Not everyone has the opportunity to save for retirement, but there are still measures against anxiety, says Viktorija Milosevska.
The most important thing is to have routines. If your days have a clear structure, where you both stimulate the brain and move, stress will decrease.
– You have to get up early, shower and get dressed. Maybe read the newspaper and drink a cup of coffee like you did before retirement. Then you have to do something mentally, says Viktorija Milosevska and continues:
– If you are passive, you only think about yourself. It is self-pity that is not productive. Try doing something for someone else instead. Get involved in some association or charity.
Read more news from Nyheter24 here:
86-year-old bitten by mouse in his sleep in nursing home: “Terrible”
69-year-old woman locked up for four days without food: “Like lying in a coffin”
Pensioner? The jobs with over 30,000 in salary if you continue to work