The Effects of Stress on Lifespan
So far, there are no clear-cut explanations for why people with neurotic personalities tend to have lower life expectancies than those who are better able to deal with life’s knocks.
There’s some evidence that neuroticism is related to high levels of cortisol, a hormone that’s secreted when someone is feeling threatened or stressed and experiences the flight-or-fight response. Too much cortisol has been shown to lower the immune system and affect heart health.
When we are in the fight or flight response (our bodies way of preparing us to survive), we have fast heart beat, high blood pressure, slower digestion. When our body remains in that state, in a state of chronic stress, it can cause health conditions like high blood pressure, stomach ulcers, and cardiovascular diseases.
Another factor in the relationship between neuroticism and lower lifespan may be that people who are constantly anxious, stressed, and depressed tend to engage in unhealthy habits.4 They’re more likely to smoke, abuse alcohol and other drugs, and have unprotected sex, any and all of which can lead to life-shortening conditions or accidents, such as an overdose or car wreck. These are all examples of unhealthy or maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Tips for Managing Stress to Extend Longevity
Regardless of whether you have what a doctor might diagnose as a neurotic personality, how you deal with difficulty in your day-to-day life can impact your overall health and well-being. It makes sense, then, to do all you can to lower your stress levels and learn how ways to cope with unexpected frustration and inconvenience.
A great place to start is by making an activity that’s known to stave off stress a part of your daily routines such as yoga or meditation.5 Other simple stress management techniques include letting your feelings out on paper by jotting them into a journal; listening to music; and getting regular physical activity.
It’s also a good idea to have some calming tactics on hand to use when you feel anxiety or anger mounting in response to a specific situation.
Breathing exercises can help, for example, as can progressive muscle relaxation or a simple three-minute meditation to help you change your perspective. And if all else fails: Walk it off. Go outside and take a brisk stroll.6 The change of scenery may be all it takes to help you get a grip and deal with whatever situation you’re in without short-circuiting your ability to cope and potentially shortening your life.
Ways to reduce your stress levels.
Some effective stress management techniques include:
- Guided imagery
- Meditation
- Progressive muscle relaxation
- Deep breathing
- Going for a walk
- Hugs
- Aromatherapy
- Creativity
- Healthy diet
- Stress relief supplements
- Leisure activities
- Positive self-talk
- Yoga
- Gratitude
- Exercise
- Evaluating priorities
- Social support
Thanks for taking the time to have a quick read about the damages of stress on the human body and ways you can reduce its impact on the human body.
