(OPINION) SF – Does an argument at the office on Monday still gnaw at you on Friday? Daily stressors come at people from all directions and some negative situations are simply unavoidable.
However, researchers at Oregon State University say how you deal with those daily conflicts can seriously impact your health. Their study finds when people resolve their issues immediately, the emotional fallout from the argument is almost totally erased. Study authors add that reducing chronic stress plays a major role in improving overall health. This is key for both avoiding mental health disorders and reducing physical ailments due to stress.
“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, – Ephesians 4:26
“Everyone experiences stress in their daily lives. You aren’t going to stop stressful things from happening. But the extent to which you can tie them off, bring them to an end, and resolve them is definitely going to pay dividends in terms of your well-being,” says senior author Robert Stawski in a university release.
Previous studies have discovered how impactful chronic stress can be on human health. The emotional strain can lead to issues like depression and anxiety or physical problems including heart disease and gastrointestinal problems. Stress can even impair the immune system and cause reproductive dysfunction.
While many might look at major stressors like money or crime as the main culprits, the team says even small problems can have major consequences. “Daily stressors — specifically the minor, small inconveniences that we have throughout the day — even those have lasting impacts on mortality and things like inflammation and cognitive function,” explains lead author and OSU doctoral student Dakota Witzel. READ MORE
