7 Thoughts That Are Bad for You

[snopes]

Our personalities do more for us than determine our social circles. Temperament can impact a person's physical health.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/...atarebadforyou

[Lachrymose]

Uggh..I think I meet all of these.

[MapleLeaf]

Does anyone on this board NOT think they meet at least 4 or 5 of these criteria?

[Latiam]

What I don't like about this is that you really can't change a lot of these "thoughts." If you have depression, or anxiety, or are cynical by nature, or are in a stressful job, well it's great to know it's bad for you. But there's not a lot you can do about that. And then they tell us not to worry about the list!

It reminds me of a situation I had as a child. They told me if I got tonsillitis or strep one more time they were removing my tonsils. There wasn't anything I could do to prevent it, and I was really scared for several months. Kind of a mean thing to tell a 6 year old.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by MapleLeaf

Does anyone on this board NOT think they meet at least 4 or 5 of these criteria?

Me. The lack of self-control is the only that I think applies to me, and even there I'm not too terrible.

Which is odd, since over the past few years I've been getting sick fairly often.

[PatYoung]

I have been Fretting about the Lack of Meaning in my life, and my Cynacism is displayed by my adopting strong beliefs simply to improve my health. The Stress over my inauthenticity has led me to Anxiety over a future where I can only see Gloom and Doom. And, after all, whose future does not include Doom.

An honest man would curde the day he was born.

[erwins]

Aren't fretting and anxiety basically the same thing? And there's a lot of overlap there with "doom and gloom" also. Those also have (I think) a connection to stress.

I guess the list winds up looking sort of meaningless to me. I mean, the fretting one mentions fretting, plus being prone to depression, then connects that to a lower lifespan on average. Well, considering that people prone to depression might be (on average) a little more likely to commit suicide, I guess this is unsurprising. If you fret but aren't prone to suicidal thoughts, then I would bet that the so-called "risk" is a lot less. It also connects fretting with smoking--so the shocking news here is that smoking is bad for you.

I don't know. I guess I just don't get anything of importance from the article. But, that may be just the cynic in me....

erwins

[Wild Redhead]

None of these really fit me. Of course I have felt anxious or depressed and such but I don't let it take over my life. I move on. I am not distrustful of others for the most part and I'm an optimist. I don't see everything as rosy but I refuse to believe that the world is going to hell in and handbasket.

[Beachlife!]

Under Lack of Meaning to Life, is that only an issue if you are concerned about it, or is it for anyone it applys to?

[Mickey Blue]

No. 7: Cynicism

This one counts for me, I tend to mistrust others.

No. 6: Lack of meaning

This is probably true.. I won't say I dwell on it regularly or anything but I do sometimes get that feeling that I am not really making any significant impact on the world.. Of course I imagine this is true of most people.

No. 5: Fretting

I'm not too terrible with this one.. I seldom let things really get the better of me unless its a major issue.. I am pretty good at "not sweating the small stuff".

No. 4: Lack of self-control

No problem here, I have very good self-control.

No. 3: Anxiety

I do have problems with this one.. I sometimes create situations in my mind that I worry about happening.. Oftentimes this is job related, I've even had dreams about being unable to take care of a patient and them dying because of my failings.. I've found when situations actually come up I can handle it but sometimes my imagination gets the better of me.

No. 2: Gloom and doom

I'm generally not a gloomy person.. I'm probably ok with this one.

No. 1: Stress

I have stress.. I think most everybody has stress.. Some of that stress drives me to perform better, but a lot of it causes me worry about things that have not happened yet.


So not great, but at least I missed a few of them

-MB

[purpleiguana]

Originally Posted by MapleLeaf

Does anyone on this board NOT think they meet at least 4 or 5 of these criteria?

Actually, I was thinking 4 or 5 was almost exactly where I was.

[snapdragonfly]

Oh hell. I am so doomed.

I guess my reaction to this just confirms it...what a vicious cycle!

[mags]

Originally Posted by MapleLeaf

Does anyone on this board NOT think they meet at least 4 or 5 of these criteria?

I don't. But then, I'm on antidepressants.

[SmallTownKid]

Does it increase my cynicism score if I say that cynicism is a helpful way to deal with the nature of reality?

[franjava]

The only one that doesn't apply to me is the lack of self-control... except when it comes to eating sweets. Aw, crap! I guess they all apply to me then.

[lynnejanet]

The only one that does apply to me is lack of self control. I am very bad at self-monitoring. I do worry and fret about things, particularly right now, but we have a lot of stressors in our life right now, so I think it's justifyable worry. And it doesn't take over, it's just always there.

[purpleiguana]

Originally Posted by SmallTownKid

Does it increase my cynicism score if I say that cynicism is a helpful way to deal with the nature of reality?

Is "I reject your reality and substitute my own" cynicism?

[TripleAAA]

No. 7: Cynicism
When you've been screwed over and lied to by as many people as I had, you can't help but be cynical. Heart disease I may get, but at least I'll still have my money and dignity.


No. 6: Lack of meaning
Doesn't everyone get this feeling now and then when something brings you down?


No. 5: Fretting
I tend not to do this. I sort of go with the flow.


No. 4: Lack of self-control
is procrastination lack of self control? I work best under pressure.


No. 3: Anxiety
I have an anxiety disorder, sorry, I can't change that.


No. 2: Gloom and doom
Gloom is not my forte.


No. 1: Stress
Everybody has stress. Stress will never go away, and no one will ever be stress free, and I can't imagine anyone has since the beginning of time.

[Phil'sGirl]

Originally Posted by MapleLeaf

Does anyone on this board NOT think they meet at least 4 or 5 of these criteria?

I don't. I have stress and am a cynic.

Oh, and I have PMS, but that's not on the list. I just thought I'd add it to my cynical stress.

[Odd Tree]

“The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those who don’t have it.”

--George Bernard Shaw