Life expectancy

bencal · ‎23-12-2017

I have read that our life expectancy is shortened for Bipolar and Depression, an average of 12 years according to some studies. Has anyone been involved with any research into this. Would apprecite feed back...

blondguy · ‎23-12-2017

Hi bencal

I have been quietly researching this interesting topic for a while now and good on you for posting about it!

Just in my humble opinion I think that being a stressed out person can have more impact on our physiological health than a untreated mental health condition can.

I understand your thoughts as I used to have chronic anxiety for 13 years and then depression kicked in for the last 21 years unfortunately. (Under management though which is good)

Just cutting a long story short.....The longer a mental illness is left untreated the greater the chances of damage to our physical health.

If you Google 'Dr Claire Weekes'......(a psychiatrist that suffered from high level anxiety and depression)....you will see that she lived a long life despite her mental health issues.

Thanks for the relevant and necessary post Bencal. I hope you you can stick around the forums...there are many gentle people on the forums that can be here for you! Your thoughts/questions are more than welcome

To answer your question after 34 years having anxiety/depression....my answer is no....our life expectancy is not shortened (unless we leave the condition untreated/unmedicated)

My kind thoughts for you

Paul

Fake_Name · ‎23-12-2017

I think that this is most likely heavily effected by the fact that people who commit suicide are almost exclusively depressive and often have anxiety. Although there are probably also many unhealthy lifestyle factors associated with depression.

topsy_ · ‎23-12-2017

Hi,

I read the results of some study which said life expectancy is about minus 10 years for men & seven & a half for women. I wondered if it is the cumulative effect of all those years of medication? Also, like Paul said, all those years of stress. My reaction to the shorter life expectancy? - thank God! An early exit without the guilt.