Ask someone who’s made it to their 100th birthday how they’ve managed to live so long, and you’re likely to get a variety of answers. They may blame good genes, but genes are only about 25 to 30% responsible for longevity. Some will link it to diet or exercise. Others will say it’s the benefit of a happy and fulfilling life. These are all important factors.
What no one is likely to claim is that a stressful life did anything to help their lifespan. Stress when you’re younger can lead to chronic health conditions when you’re older. It’s a major factor in your overall wellbeing, which clearly has implications for whether you can make it to your senior years without any potentially life-limiting illness or injury.
Unfortunately, completely avoiding stress is pretty much an impossibility. Everyone has bad days sometimes. There are troubles at school or work, there are difficulties with family and friends, and there’s the general state of the world in its apparent slide toward the apocalypse. It doesn’t always last, but even temporary stress can have some long-term implications.
People who are prone to anxiety tend to have shorter lives. Psychologists have identified the so-called “neurotic” personality where individuals are more likely to experience negative emotions like fear, doubt, guilt, frustration and jealousy. They may be more likely to develop mental health problems, from mood disorders to substance abuse.
All this can add up to a decrease in longevity for people with neuroticism. It’s probably a mix of spending an extended time in the “fight or flight” stress response with the associated strain it puts on the body and the unhealthy lifestyle choices often made by stressed people, such as poor diet or lack of exercise.
Whether you can officially be diagnosed as “neurotic” or not, you’re going to encounter stress sometimes and you need to know how to deal with it if you want a long and happy life. Figure out what helps you relax, whether it’s yoga and meditation or pounding things out in the gym, and make sure you set some time aside for it.
Other things that can help reduce stress include writing down your feelings, listening to music or even simple breathing exercises. There are professional therapists who can also help you develop the techniques that are best suited to your personality and interests. It’s all very individual.
