Stress Is Aging You Faster—But It’s Possible To Slow Down The Biological Clock

We live in a very chaotic world that is competitive and there is certainly no escaping from this world. It is as it is and we have to learn to manage ourselves within this stressful and competitive environment. As individuals, beat at our homes or at our workplaces — we are often told to either reduce or stress or manage as stress especially when we are facing it for a long period of time.

A certain study which was published in translational psychiatry threw light on how chronic stress can lead to faster aging, however emotional regulation and some self control might help solve this. The research determined this after having studied 444 individuals aged between 18 to 50. Their blood samples were collected and then assessed in terms of the chemical changes that are age-related in the body and other different health markers; these individuals were also questioned with regards to their stress levels and also their psychological resilience.

We are all aware of the negative impact that stress can create in our lives and on the aging process, we sure have complained about hair fall or feeling depressed when we are facing extreme stress in our lives, isn’t it? This particular research study informs that there are services and programs that would help promote self control and emotional regulation— both of which have great potential in improving long-term health in all of us.

The stress and its connection with aging process

This particular study as mentioned was conducted on 444 individuals who are based in New Haven, CT and were aged between 18 to 50. Blood samples were collected and questions were asked in order to assess their self control and their stress levels and how the participants felt about themselves. Several researches have shown how cumulative stress is directly linked to accelerating the aging process and not just that it also increases insulin resistance in the body based on different behavioral factors such as the body mass index or even smoking.

It is said that this is the first study to explore the impact of stress on the aging process in a community sample without terming it as a mental illness or a physical problem. Right now there is only correlated evidence that connects aging with stress, therefore longitudinal research needs to be carried out in the future in order to support the stress and aging connection.

Mood regulation could be the key

A trained regional medical director for health and psychiatrist says that — this particular study helps postulate the emotional regulation and also to self control and how these two can delete areas of stress that are connected with aging and promote overall well-being for the long-term. Individuals who suffer with anxiety and mood disorders end up engaging themselves in detrimental behavior and this in return results in elevating their stress levels — now this longitudinally and acutely exacerbates effects of stress. We need to pay attention as to how therapy and medication target anxiety and mood states and consequently end up possessing that capacity to protect those individuals. Psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy are two things we need to look at in order to combat the inevitable stress in our life and focus on the small invaluable gifts that we find in our life and develop moments of gratitude. Trying to follow and practice this will help us give back more to our loved ones and also to our communities. This altruism will further promote a happy cycle which will give us long-term rewards in our life. We need to train our body to respond to stressful situations better by improving cognition.

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