The first one is aging (Carman, 1997). I managed to interview *F.A., a woman in her middle adulthood stage, with regards to the effects of ageing on her (A., 2007). A brief summary of it follows:

First of all, F.A. discloses that her blood pressure rises too easily (A., 2007). She added that even if she only ate small amounts of meat, her blood pressure increases (A., 2007).  Also, she noticed that a little irritation or feelings of anger results in the escalation of her blood pressure (A., 2007). She also admits that sometimes her partner leaves the house when she gets too angry and talkative, which consequently takes away quality time for both of them (Meston, 1997).  Experts explicate that, as individuals become older, circulation worsens thus bringing about hardening of the arteries and rising of blood pressure (Carman, 1997). How does this affect the other areas of ones’ life, you may ask? It plays a large role in making the right decision (or the wrong one), see, when emotions get in the way, it is difficult to think properly (Carman, 1997). In addition to that, work is affected because it is difficult to move when you are irritated, agitated, etc (Carman, 1997). The same is true with community involvement wherein misunderstanding usually arise because of it (Carman, 1997).

Second, the woman confesses that she easily gets tired (A., 2007).  She added that exercises like jogging short distances, gives her feelings of extreme exhaustion that one time she even collapsed right then and there (A., 2007).  She also said that, “Sometimes, even just walking to church, which is only a few blocks away from my home, fatigues me” (A., 2007).  She is forced to lessen engaging in “intimate activities” with her husband because of this as well (Meston, 1997). This is due to the fact that the heart pumps less efficiently, as we grow older, making exercise a lot more difficult (Carman, 1997). Explaining further, the heart muscle is unable to propel large/adequate quantities of blood quickly to the body, thus, resulting in tiring quickly and taking longer to recover from it (Carman, 1997).

Last but not least, she divulges, “I contemplate on whether I should meet with my friends sometimes because I don’t like my wrinkles to be seen by them” (A., 2007).  In addition, she said, “I especially don’t like my spots to be noticed. I don’t know how or why this happens but suddenly spots appear in my body like I am some kind of a dalmatian” (A., 2007). She feels insecure as well because of that, forcing herself not to be intimate with her husband as well (Kingsberg, 2002).  Specialists say that as individuals’ age; their skin loses thickness and decreases its elasticity, thus, resulting in wrinkles (Carman, 1997). Furthermore, bruises are more likely to be present since blood vessels near the skin’s surface weaken (Carman, 1997).

The other one is menopause. The most common problems brought about by menopause include the following: 1) mood swings; and 2) infections (Kin et. al., 1997). For instance: 1) “urinary tract infections or UTI which is defined as infection found anywhere from the kidneys, ureters, bladder, to the urethra”; 2) “cystitis or inflammation of the bladder”; and 3) “vaginitis or the inflammation of the vaginal mucosa” (Kin. et. al., 1997). Of course, if mood swings and infections exist, “behavioral intimacies” by the partners are reduced if not none at all (Meston, 1997). How does this affect the other areas of ones’ life, you may ask? Of course, if mood or emotions cannot be controlled, nothing may be done in the right manner; no decisions will become right since critical thinking will never exist in such kind of a setting (Carman, 1997). This is also very difficult if it will exist in the workplace; mood can provoke anger, which will consequently lead to differences (Carman, 1997). On a final note, community members, partners or couples, as well as, family members will never be at peace if they will be controlled by mood swings; nothing good will come out of it (Carman, 1997).