Stress: killing me softly

[stonemonkey]

I don't know if this counts as a health post, but I was just wondering what people think about those studies that show that people who are stressed or depressed, or I guess just feeling shitty in general tend to have shorter lifespans than people who are 'happier'. I think I also read somewhere that single males have the shortest lifespans, and it's worse if you aren't religious. I guess that would be me.

I'm really fascinated by this stuff, how the latest trend in psychology is 'positive' psychology: where instead of treating ailments, they try to improve people's happiness levels. They get people to do things like keep gratitude journals, and supposedly that manages to increase their happiness.

Thoughts? Comments? Questions?

[paiger81]

I think this is what is happening with my brother(Depression) now. My bro has to write in a journal, he also has sticky notes of positive things about him on a board in his room. I've noticed him becoming better at expressing himself, so I guess it does work, huh?

I find most types of psychology fascinating, just cause it's so vast.

[Jedi of Zen]

Stonemonkey - I think anyone who DOESN'T believe there is any mind-body connection is living in the dark ages. It is a most fascinating subject. I've also read that males benefit more from marriage than females. Figures, since we're the aggressive brutes and all.

[paiger81]

It's ok, we live longer cause we are conniving & manipulative :D

[stonemonkey]

I think I've got a twisted way of looking at things, like maybe I should go out more and have more fun, make more friends and be generally happier, not so much because that's my number one priority, but more because of the health benefits.

What blows my mind is the number of hours of unpaid overtime that people do, completely screwing up the work/life balance idea. I guess the health risks associated with that are really subtle, but I think over a long enough period of time, it's gotta do something to your health.

[NoWomanNoCry]

Ooohh, this mind/body stuff has always fascinated me. I've read a number of books on it and actually use it in my own life.

I use to suffer from severe depression and anorexia. I got through both on my own, but the depression took a while longer. I was on these anti -depressants, and one day I just decided that I could get better on my own sans the drugs. I'd been doing some reading on the mind/body thing, and figured that my body has the ability to make itself better just as much as it can make itself ill. And today I'm doing great.

My friend can actually think about having her blood flow to her hands and make it happen - they turn blue. It's so wierd.

[Desiderata]

[QUOTE=stonemonkey]I think I've got a twisted way of looking at things, like maybe I should go out more and have more fun, make more friends and be generally happier, not so much because that's my number one priority, but more because of the health benefits.
QUOTE]

And that's where the stress is coming in. The word "should" can be so pervasive and cumulative that it can really do some damage. And it's so common that no one even thinks twice about it. But the premise of should means that you're not doing something right, and thus are wrong, and thus are beating yourself up to some level.

That being said, don't ask me how to fix it, I hope they cover that at the graduate level ;)

[Radgirl]

I can definitely confirm that stress and other pysch issues are killing me slowly. I'm not sure about other here, but I have dealt with these issues most of my life and have very little control of them now. It sucks.