How women can live longer and it's FREE
By freedomg
@freedomg (1684)
United States
June 13, 2009 6:44pm CST
I recently caught a short news story that said women that had female friends lived longer than those that didn't. I found this both extremely interesting and even a little scary. I am one of those people that have a few acquaintances but as I have gotten older I sadly have found myself with only 2 women I call friend and I have only hung out with one of them one time in the past 6 years. I am not by any means complaining,this is mostly because I am very busy and what little free time I get i try to spend with the hubby or kids.
Curious I did a little research and have found some incredibly compelling data to back it up including a study done by UCLA. Which you can read here http://www.anapsid.org/cnd/gender/tendfend.html
for those who like the short version here's a quote to give you the idea "In one study, for example, researchers found that people who had no friends increased their risk of death over a 6-month period. In another study, those who had the most friends over a 9-year period cut their risk of death by more than 60%."
So tell me ladies do you think we keep each other alive longer with our companionship and if so how many of you are like me out here in no-woman's land?
So tell me ladies do you think we keep each other alive longer with our companionship and if so how many of you are like me out here in no-woman's land?3 people like this
9 responses
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
19 Jun 09
That's amazing freedom. I find it so hard to make friends and keep them. People just tend to disappear. Several years ago, I returned to a place where I used to live. I had not kept in touch with anyone basically (and they had not kept in touch with me). Coming back I looked people up and met them for coffee and such, swapped phone numbers and I gave them my email addy but then nothing. I was pretty hurt as even my best friend of 15 years did the dirty on me. So I guess I'll be dying younger than I planned. Oh well, c'est la vie.
@freedomg (1684)
• United States
23 Jun 09
What a bummer. 
I had a freind of several years pull a nasty move on me and I know it hurts really bad. I figured it was her way of letting me know how important I wasn't to her. Now if she would just stop calling me every time she needs money or something acting like we are still the tightest of friends. Anyhoo I think I'm better off with only a handful of people in my klife as there is too much drama out there. If I die younger thenI die I can't make freinds appear out of no where. It would be col though to have someone that I could go get coffee with or just be silly with. It's so hard to find people that appreciate the theraputic qualities of sillieness these days. Thanks for posting.
I had a freind of several years pull a nasty move on me and I know it hurts really bad. I figured it was her way of letting me know how important I wasn't to her. Now if she would just stop calling me every time she needs money or something acting like we are still the tightest of friends. Anyhoo I think I'm better off with only a handful of people in my klife as there is too much drama out there. If I die younger thenI die I can't make freinds appear out of no where. It would be col though to have someone that I could go get coffee with or just be silly with. It's so hard to find people that appreciate the theraputic qualities of sillieness these days. Thanks for posting.
@freedomg (1684)
• United States
23 Jun 09
True my Grandma has buried all but one of her siblings and several of her closest friends. I told her I can't understand how she keeps so up beat I would be soooo bummed out.
But she just keeps going telling me that that is just part of life and we will all just have to learn to deal with it. Thanks for sharing.
But she just keeps going telling me that that is just part of life and we will all just have to learn to deal with it. Thanks for sharing.
@mikeysmom (2088)
• United States
14 Jun 09
i had heard about this also. it makes sense because i know i unload with some of my good friends and it makes me feel better even if they do not offer a solution to my problems. just having someone to talk to is cathartic and if they offer a shoulder to lean on it makes you feel like you are not alone and that someone else cares about what you are going through. i am sure the same goes for guys that have close friendships.
1 person likes this
@freedomg (1684)
• United States
23 Jun 09
I know it would probably hep me to have someone to vent to. My mom offers and I know she means it but she's in poor health and I feel like a heel complaining to her.
I'll tell you my poor pillow is in rough shape from my "venting" but it helps the best it knows how. Heehee. Thank you for sharing.
I'll tell you my poor pillow is in rough shape from my "venting" but it helps the best it knows how. Heehee. Thank you for sharing.
@bjcyrix (6901)
• Philippines
14 Jun 09
Ahm, I do have a lot of friends but I dont see them that much. Im still in school so I might get to see them a lot during the weekdays but on the weekends or when I dont have that much engagements Im just mostly home by myself. Does that count?^_^
I do agree that companionship would help us to live longer. Its what most people are looking for right? That's why they are looking for love, to have a companion for the rest of their lives. Though it is different to have companions/friends of the same gender. They just understand what one is going through and there wouldnt have to be any explanations needed whatsoever. Friendship is also one of the things that keep us going in life. I mean if we are just living for ourselves, then what kind of a life would that be?
@freedomg (1684)
• United States
14 Jun 09
What a lovely way of putting it. I do agree that we are all looking for companionship and if you find the right one he can pretend to understand what you are talking about. My hubby is very good at nodding and smiling and saying "I know sweety". But I know the poor guy is usually clueless and love him for the effort. Women do understand each other better and I think that it is important to have at least one female friend that you can truly talk to. By truly I don't mean that form of talking we all tend to do when we are pretending that we are super human and the perfect wife and mother that never cries or loses her temper, I mean the kind of talking where you can admit that if your teenager says one more flip thing to you you're going to lose it.
Thank you for posting and sharing such wonderful thoughts. And by the way yeah I do think the friends you have count.
Thank you for posting and sharing such wonderful thoughts. And by the way yeah I do think the friends you have count.1 person likes this
@xoxcharityxox (567)
• United States
14 Jun 09
I think it is an interesting theory. It does make sense. if you have people who make you happy and content in life and they aren't part of your actual stress you are less likely to become depressed. Depression leads to a lot of illnesses. The best thing would be to sorround yourself with things that make you happy and stay healthy. I only have a couple really close friends these days. I am a stay at home mom right now, so don't get to meet many new people. I hope when I get back into school and work that will change.
1 person likes this
@freedomg (1684)
• United States
23 Jun 09
You are right as women we handle stress a little differently then men and it can turn to depression quickly which does bring on illness. It's crazy when you think about it. Hold on to those close freinds, I think if we get too many not so close people in our lives it could work against us. Like some of the posters have said some women are all about trash talking and that will only create stress.
Thanks for posting.
Thanks for posting.
@lilaclady (28206)
• Australia
14 Jun 09
I think there is a certain feeling we get with our friends, I think we humans need relationships of all sorts, and the sharing of ideas and problems makes things easier for us, also i think society has put a lot on us about being popular as well and i guess if we don't have friensds we could get a little depressed deep down maybe even just pity ourselves a little which is not good...yes being happy I think can make us live longer and as a rule friends make us happy..
1 person likes this
@freedomg (1684)
• United States
14 Jun 09
Awesome theory! I think you are probably right for at least half of why this works. I was never the "popular" girl and when I was younger, like in junior high, it did bum me out pretty bad but as I got older I found myself caring less about that stuff. I decided to be happy with me and adopted a saying "If you don't like me you can either learn to deal with it or die with it on your mind. Either way it isn't my problem". Thanks for the post and the great insight.
I think you are probably right for at least half of why this works. I was never the "popular" girl and when I was younger, like in junior high, it did bum me out pretty bad but as I got older I found myself caring less about that stuff. I decided to be happy with me and adopted a saying "If you don't like me you can either learn to deal with it or die with it on your mind. Either way it isn't my problem". Thanks for the post and the great insight. 
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
14 Jun 09
I don't have alot of friends either....but I have good ones. I think because women share more things with each other that it relieves stress etc....we also for the most part fill up those spaces of things we require but men can't give! Or they don't think of.....so I do believe that having female friends does work to our advantage.
1 person likes this
@Citychic (4067)
• United States
14 Jun 09
How women can live longer..........
Hello friend, I am joining you in no woman's land, hee hee. I have plenty of online friends but free time is spent doing things either with or for my family. I do get together a few times a year with sisters or a few friends and we all go and hang out. So I guess that should answer your question. I think that if we spend time online getting to know each other it can be not much different than actually being in person...Minus a few giggles and or soft punches. Take care......Huggs!
