Bad Mood Fouls Your Health

Published Online: Saturday, June 1, 2002   [ Request Print ]

New findings suggest that people who take longer to get over depression or anger are at higher risk for poor health than people who snap back more quickly. ?Maintaining a negative mood for a long period of time is harmful to your health.  People think that getting stressed and anxious is bad for you. The key isn?t how stressed you are, but how long you are stressed,? said Scott Hemenover, PhD, who presented his findings at the Midwestern Psychological Association conference. Dr. Hemenover said that teaching such people to change their negative way of thinking could help them bounce back from depression and anger more quickly, and thereby protect their health.