European publications report that increasing numbers of older women are being treated for anorexia. Eating disorders have been considered a disease of early adolescents and teenagers. The trend is a dangerous way cope with the fear of aging. Psychologists believe the eating disorder results when pretty older women compare themselves to glamorous celebrities.

Obsessing over appearance is dangerous at any age, yet there's nothing wrong with wanting to look good. Update your wardrobe, throwing caution to the winds. If you've been wearing conservative business or mom attire for the past few decades, step out of that mold. Try something new. One of the most glamorous fashion statements I've ever seen was the English teacher's wife who wore a Christmas ornament in her hair - in May! We can conquer the fear of aging by allowing ourselves to be creative and original in fashion, as in all areas of our lives.

Carl Jung argued that contemporary people experience empty lives because we have lost our sense of the spiritual and ritual significance of our place in the universe. As older women, we can dress stylishly and assume our role as guardians of wisdom - wisdom that we do not have to starve ourselves to be well dressed and look our best.

The London Mail attributes the spike in the eating disorder among older women to unrealistic expectations. Most of us did not have Madonna's body when we were 20, and we are not going to have it now. One of Jung's seven tasks of aging is facing life realistically. Other tasks of successful aging are releasing the concerns of the ego and becoming rooted in a deeper sense of self. Find like-minded people who share your passions in life. That is where our true self confidence originates, not in a mirror.

Other tips for overcoming the fear of aging: Enjoy a bubble bath, an aromatherapy mist, or a massage. Chat on the phone, blog a bit, volunteer and make a difference, learn an art, craft, or a new language. If you can afford it, take a trip somewhere you've always wanted to go. If you can't, take a day trip to someplace you have not visited in your own backyard - ever or recently.

These bromides for successful aging are not cures for anorexia, a serious disorder. Rather, they are prescriptions for reclaiming social values that honor the wisdom and creativity of older women.



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