Retirement can be exciting and daunting; usually, it’s a bit of both. This is a unique time in life marked by shifts in roles and priorities. Yet in the media, we often see two extremes: carefree retirees traveling the world as a culmination of decades of work, or isolated older adults deteriorating at home as they face loneliness, estrangement, or illness. These very different views imply that we are either going to be free from hardship and celebrate every day or become isolated without purpose. The reality, for most people, is much more nuanced than we are shown.

Clients have shared with me that they feel lucky to be able to retire but are deeply unsatisfied, lonely, and without direction. Those who retire voluntarily may be met with comments of envy for the freedom they now have, which may make them feel ungrateful about struggling with the transition. This was supposed to be the end goal, after all. Others may not have had a choice due to health conditions,

© Psychology Today