“Mom…Mom…Mom…”I have days where I truly believe my children are aging me. Busy after-school activities along with teens rapidly changing hormone levels and resultant mood fluctuations, can bring a parent to their knees. But, honestly, I don’t really think my children physically age me, and (thankfully) they do not make me feel depressed or (overly) anxious, but sometimes keeping up with their busy schedules make me feel much older than I am. For many parent’s, their own psychological health may be adversely affected by environmental factors stemming from raising children especially if they emotional or physical disabilities. But parents are not the only people afflicted with depression. Depression can affect anyone and can be a result of hereditary factors or tragic and/or stressful environmental situations.
According to some studies, 1 in 5 people will develop major depression in their lifetime; and, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, every year, approximately 14.8 million adults will suffer from major depressive disorder (MDD).
Recently, scientists have discovered reasonable proof that people with MDD may age more rapidly. According to Molecular Psychiatry (November 2013), people with MDD could be at increased risk for age-related diseases such as diabetes, cancer obesity and heart disease. MDD seemed to promote damage to cellular material, “telomeres” which is consistent with an accelerated age-related change found in much older people.
Does this mean we can delay the aging process with living psychologically healthier lives? Very possibly, the answer is “yes”. But learning to live happier does not always come easy for a lot of people. Regular exercise, an active social environment and interactive pets can certainly help to reduce stress, lower blood pressure and even improve cholesterol due to an active lifestyle’s positive effects on mental health.
I could be stretching truths a bit, but learning to “get along” and spend quality family time together can certainly help ease the strain of parenthood and quite possibly help slow down the aging process. Easier said than done, but keep those kids happy without too much compromising…and, good luck!