Can your emotional health cause you to age faster?
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Introduction
In this article, we are going to look at the link between our emotional health and how we age. We’ll examine this from the perspective of data from research studies and also look at the reasons why your emotional state could cause you to age more rapidly than you should. We will look at the work of one of our favourite authors, Gabor Maté, a Hungarian-Canadian doctor and author who lectures on the connection between unresolved trauma and the need for self-soothing behaviours.
Addictive behaviours
Gabor Maté, in his book, “The Myth of Normal”, says that addiction is an attempt to soothe the pain imposed by childhood trauma. We tend to think of addictions in terms of smoking, drug use, gambling and alcoholism, but he defines addiction as any behaviour that a person finds temporary pleasure or relief in and therefore craves, but suffers negative consequences in the long-term as a result, and does not give up despite the negative consequences.
An addiction can involves substances such as heroin or alcohol, but also includes shopping, eating, work, the internet, sex, pornography, power and other human behaviours. He argues that every person has or has had some addictive patterns in their lives. The main take away from his work is that addictive behaviours are not a choice, we are using them to soothe repressed emotions and trauma held deep inside.
You may think that you haven’t experienced trauma because we tend to think of trauma as events such as sexual and physical abuse but, unfortunately, Maté would argue that trauma can be created by parenting styles that are very normal in our culture and by events and interactions throughout our lifetimes, and so all people carry trauma to some extent.
Is addiction a choice?
Dr Gabor Maté discussing addiction and his book, “The Myth of Normal”.
So what is the link to aging? We would refer you to our article, “Cognitive health: 8 critical factors to protect your mind”, where we list steps to keep your mind healthy and protected from dementia. When you have a lot of self-soothing behaviours, it is very difficult to adhere to routines that protect your mind and body as you age. These days, it is very normal for people to self-sooth through over-eating, which could be argued is the reason for the global obesity crisis. Many people self-sooth through overuse of alcohol, mid-week drinking and binge drinking. Alcohol has many effects on our system including draining our bodies of certain minerals, causing anxiety and interfering with our sleep.
Can we heal from trauma?
According to Maté, the answer is very much yes. He talks about people changing to become themselves in that, when we hold unresolved trauma, we engage in behaviours that block us from being our authentic selves. The healing journey can last a life time and can be painful but there are many rewards to be had, including being able to maintain a healthy balanced lifestyle based on habits we know are good for us rather than a need to self-sooth.
In his masterpiece, renowned physician, addiction expert and author Gabor Maté dissects the underlying causes of this malaise - physical and emotional, and connects the dots between our personal suffering and the pressures of modern-day living. Over four decades of clinical experience, Dr Maté has found that the common definition of 'normal' is false: virtually all disease is actually a natural reflection of life in an abnormal culture, as we grow further and further apart from our true selves. But he also shows us the pathway to reconnection and healing.
What does the research say?
According to the MedicalNewsToday article, “Loneliness and unhappiness accelerate aging faster than smoking, study shows”, they tell us that mental health is also a factor in the risk for accelerated aging and that, according to researchers, certain psychological issues, including unhappiness and loneliness, can increase a person’s biological age more than smoking.
This is based on research carried out by Deep Longevity Limited in Hong Kong. The lead author of the study said that childhood trauma and psychological stress can accelerate epigenetic aging. They measure age based on blood, genetic and DNA testing. They suggest that mental health therapies not only make you feel good but can also extend your life.
The article gives actionable tips for improving your mental health, including a healthy sleep pattern, activities to help you relax, such as meditation, going out in day light and nature, regular exercise, eating healthily, connecting with other people and practicing mindfulness and gratitude.
What can you do about your stress and trauma?
If you want to begin a journey to heal your emotional state, some form of therapy with an accredited counsellor, psychologist or psychotherapist is recommended. As not everyone is in a position to afford to pay for therapy or may not be ready for that step, there are some techniques that you can teach yourself. One caveat is that we would not advise trying to deal with any major traumatic events by yourself.
One of our favourite self-use techniques is havening, which was made quite popular a few years ago by hypnotist, Paul McKenna. This involves bringing to mind an upsetting event or emotion and then going through some cognitive and physical steps including stroking your body, counting and visualisation.
Havening
Hypnotist Paul McKenna demonstrates the technique.
Conclusion
Opening the lid on and delving into your trauma and suppressed emotions is not easy but well worth it. You could say that it is short term pain for a long term gain. It is a journey that takes a lifetime but along the way you will see more and more positive results. We really do believe that this is an essential part of the anti-aging and longevity journey.
We are very happy to see research being done into the effect of emotions on our biology and longevity. We are also delighted to see the work of Gabor Maté becoming included in mainstream conversations. Recently, he was interviewed on the Joe Rogan podcast and he has also been a guest of Russell Brand. We believe that the world will be a better place when people truly understand their emotional landscape and know that beginning to heal it can positively impact them and everybody else around them.
Do you believe that there is a connection between your emotions and your diet, exercise and lifestyle choices? Have you noticed any link between how your feel and the type of food you eat or how much you drink? We think this is a very important conversation so please share your thoughts and experiences.