Lying is harmful to you
Feb 15, 2008
WHETHER you are not being honest with yourself or with others, you are negatively affecting your health, in the short and long run. According to Emilio Ovuga, a professor of psychiatry at Butabika Mental Hospital, honesty is the best policy for you.
By Fred Ouma
WHETHER you are not being honest with yourself or with others, you are negatively affecting your health, in the short and long run. According to Emilio Ovuga, a professor of psychiatry at Butabika Mental Hospital, honesty is the best policy for you.
Know when to say ‘No’
For many people, the biggest stress factor in life is attempting to please everyone. This usually leads to saying yes to every invitation even when our schedules are so packed with events and we cannot make it.
Ovuga says this leads to an overwhelming feeling of denial. “Honestly look at what you can realistically accomplish in your schedule, and do not forget to save time for yourself,†he says. “Do not be afraid to say ‘no’ to additional burdens. You will find that you are back in the driver’s seat of your life when you know when to say ‘no’.â€
Stress and associated risks
When you find yourself denying that you are feeling negative emotions, it leads to stress. Nowhere else is stress more directly linked to the development of many diseases, including cancers.
According to experts, patients with cancer are more likely to have suffered prolonged stress, including severe personal loss or chronic depression than the general population.
In addition to prolonged stress, many cancer patients have Type C personalities, characterised by a tendency to repress and deny their own feelings. Numerous studies have recently confirmed these effects of emotional stress on the body.
Do everything you can to honestly, assess your emotions and release the stress through breathing techniques, exercise or talking about your feelings. In this way, you can lessen your risk to cancers.
open up for peace of mind
The most powerful way to neutralise negative emotions is to acknowledge them.
When you honestly admit your feelings, you protect yourself from the flood of damaging hormones that these feelings produce in your body. Get it off your chest; talk to people if you are feeling disappointed, unhappy, or hurt about something.
Be honest when you convey your feelings, be kind when you criticise, and be positive when expressing your views. Once you acknowledge your feelings, they will be less likely to trouble you.
But holding your feelings inside makes you a time bomb, ready to explode at some time, even a minor incident. Own up to what is in your heart and you will enjoy the benefits that come with a peace of mind.
WHETHER you are not being honest with yourself or with others, you are negatively affecting your health, in the short and long run. According to Emilio Ovuga, a professor of psychiatry at Butabika Mental Hospital, honesty is the best policy for you.
Know when to say ‘No’
For many people, the biggest stress factor in life is attempting to please everyone. This usually leads to saying yes to every invitation even when our schedules are so packed with events and we cannot make it.
Ovuga says this leads to an overwhelming feeling of denial. “Honestly look at what you can realistically accomplish in your schedule, and do not forget to save time for yourself,†he says. “Do not be afraid to say ‘no’ to additional burdens. You will find that you are back in the driver’s seat of your life when you know when to say ‘no’.â€
Stress and associated risks
When you find yourself denying that you are feeling negative emotions, it leads to stress. Nowhere else is stress more directly linked to the development of many diseases, including cancers.
According to experts, patients with cancer are more likely to have suffered prolonged stress, including severe personal loss or chronic depression than the general population.
In addition to prolonged stress, many cancer patients have Type C personalities, characterised by a tendency to repress and deny their own feelings. Numerous studies have recently confirmed these effects of emotional stress on the body.
Do everything you can to honestly, assess your emotions and release the stress through breathing techniques, exercise or talking about your feelings. In this way, you can lessen your risk to cancers.
open up for peace of mind
The most powerful way to neutralise negative emotions is to acknowledge them.
When you honestly admit your feelings, you protect yourself from the flood of damaging hormones that these feelings produce in your body. Get it off your chest; talk to people if you are feeling disappointed, unhappy, or hurt about something.
Be honest when you convey your feelings, be kind when you criticise, and be positive when expressing your views. Once you acknowledge your feelings, they will be less likely to trouble you.
But holding your feelings inside makes you a time bomb, ready to explode at some time, even a minor incident. Own up to what is in your heart and you will enjoy the benefits that come with a peace of mind.