Gossiping…it’s an emotional charge that helps spice up a dreary day. increase.
Let’s face it. Most of us gossip. Research shows that more than 70% of our daily conversations with her revolve around talking about someone else.
Ventilation has a purpose. Experts say it provides a way to talk about what upsets us and allows us to connect with others who may understand our pain.
But gossiping can damage your health. When adrenaline spikes, so does cortisol, the stress hormone. Repeatedly telling painful stories about being hurt or wronged by someone increases both of these things.
“Rising cortisol means more fuel consumption. So what happens – you’ve actually set your body on fire. It’s like driving fast, it’s just running and racing and racing, so when you go into gossiping and talking negatively about people mode At any given time, you’ve actually ignited your fight-or-flight physiology, says David Hanscom, MD and chronic pain expert.
Over time, your body can remain in that fight-or-flight mode, which can leave you feeling helpless, angry, and anxious.
And that can lead to survival mode where you gossip about others to make yourself feel better.
Experts say it’s a vicious cycle that can eventually lead to illness.
According to Hanscom, “Your immune system starts attacking your own tissues. Metabolism and fuel consumption starts taking fuel from your tendons, ligaments, cartilage and actually your brain.”
Gossiping can also cause fatigue, anxiety, or depression.
Experts also warn that gossiping can lead to long-term physical and mental problems such as panic attacks, guilt and, in extreme cases, post-traumatic stress disorder.
So how do you break the cycle? Simply stopping the negativity in your conversation can dramatically affect how your body responds.
It’s important to handle difficult situations, but the key is not to dwell on them. Spend more time focusing on positive things.
In fact, “positive” gossip, like sharing news about someone’s achievements, can temporarily boost self-esteem and help you feel emotionally supported by others.
Experts say the key to all this is balance. Set a gossip time limit. Observe the 10 minute rule and kindly leave the conversation.
