Thoughts (Emotions)

Mind over Matter

Carrying unresolved traumatic experiences or distressing memories from the past or present causes blockages in the body's cellular communication pathways - which results in a compromised immune system, physical problems and emotional unrest.

Certain organs are sensitive to specific emotional states (E.g. Nervousness shows up as "butterflies" in the stomach; fear affects the bowel);

Emotional (and physical) stress affects hormone production - by creating energy disturbances that upset neuro-hormonal pathways and block energy flow between cells;

Mind over Matter

For a long life - you may be surprised at what matters most . . .

The results of a meta-review of 148 studies (308,849 participants) by Julianne Holt-Lunstad, professor of psychology and Neuroscience at Brigham  Young University revealed  that:

 Having stronger social relationships predicts a 50% increased likelihood of survival, consistent across age, sex, initial health status, cause of death and follow-up period!

Factors that most predict whether you will live longer (in reverse order):

(10) Breathing clean air

  (9) Taking hypertension Rx

  (8) Being lean vs. overweight

  (7) Exercise

  (6) Cardiac rehab

  (5) Having flu vaccines

  (4). Quitting boozing

  (3)  Quitting smoking

 (2) HAVING CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS - friends you can rely on

 (1) SOCIAL INTEGRATION - Having daily social interactions with people, such as how many people do you talk to throughout your day and whether you live alone;

"Being connected to others socially is widely considered a fundamental human need - crucial to both well-being and survival,"

- Juliannne Holt-Lunstadt

Loneliness, social isolation and living alone increase mortaility

Another meta-review of 70 studies from 1980 to 2014 (involving 3.4 million people from N. America, Europe, Asia and Australia), Holt-Lunstad and her team found that loneliness, social isolation, and living alone all increased likelihood of mortality ~29, 26, and 32% respectively. The researchers also mentioned that:

"Affluent nations have the highest rates of individuals living alone since census data collection began and also likely have the highest rates in human history, with those rates projected to increase,"

In the U.S., 28% of households have just one person living in them

U.S. 2016 Census