Week Six- Early and Middle Age

"Emerging into Adulthood"(18-25years)
Intimacy Vs Isolation
Early adulthood , as discussed in chapter nine "is the life period during which physical changes slow down after a dramatic changes that occurs in adolescence".(p.210).  A time for exploration and experimentation. For most of us in my culture we just get into expectations mode just because most of us take adult role right from the adolescence. The chapter talks about the initiation into adulthood around the world that is followed by a pattern in every culture. "There is no one way to cross from childhood into adulthood, and many rituals has existed for thousands of year-attesting to the importance of such acts in societies around the world. Some rites involve physical acts, whereas others are social or introspective. Despite variations, there appears to be need to mark the transition into adulthood" (p.209). In my culture, what I can call initiation into adulthood is the celebration of one's 21st birthday, at this age most early adult would have almost  finished their college degree, have the courage of being independent, shows a significant amount of self control and mostly focus on task that is very meaningful.

"Aged to perfection"(25-65years)- "Middle age is the awkward period when Father Time starts catching up with Mother Nature".
significant cultural meanings and cognitive changes are the major milestones in this stage, Chapter ten talks about the physical changes in middle adulthood and the main factors affecting them. "In the middle age, habits that are formed in earlier life stages can start to have consequences that affect health and well-being. While most young adult wants to stay healthy and maintain trends, some practices behavior that are very dangerous to their health."(p.234) In the middle age, making  lifestyle decisions including the use or abuse of alcohol and drugs make age happen fast. it is of important as true in earlier life that overweight is a matter of concern. The difference is that older individuals do not often have the same time or energy to sustain exercise plans and practices which they made in their younger years.
 physical- signs of aging begins to show at this age; skin tone and texture, pigments change, hair color, thicken nails and yellowish of  teeth occurs.  Cardiovascular health is one major area that the chapter talks about, the changes in the cardiovascular system result in heart disease if proper precaution were not taken to lower blood pressure or blood cholesterol. Loss of senses is another area of decline, my vision started getting worse two years ago at late 40s that I have to start using glasses for reading. The main physical change in women is the menopause when ovaries cease to produce hormone estrogen and progesterone. (p.237). An interesting part of the readings was about the  menopause and hormone replacement.  It is good for me to read and know that according to research  "Nigerian women also experience shoulder discomfort during menopause."(p.238).