stress health retirement

[Khan]

I retired a/o 31 Dec '04.

My physical/mental health has continually improved since then.

Lost 75# of fat
Gained strength through exercising.
Migraines/tooth grinding/arthritis pain/bad dreams... tapered off.

Today I went to the dentist for 6 month cleaning/check up.

It was first 6 month interval after years of four month intervals with lots of digging and scraping involved. Only 20 minutes this time.

The hygienist remarked at how little buildup there was, and called over the others to comment on it. The dentist remarked how much my gums had improved.

I asked him if stress reduction could explain the improvement in oral health, and he said stress is involved with all sorts of negative health factors.

Sometimes I feel a little upset that I did not enable myself to retire earlier.

How has your health improved?

 

[73ss454]

I'm only retired for months not years and the first thing I noticed is how much better I feel on Sundays. I'd have stomach pains and feel depressed the whole day. Now DW has to tell me when it's Sunday.

 

[W2R]

I'm only retired for months not years and the first thing I noticed is how much better I feel on Sundays. I'd have stomach pains and feel depressed the whole day. Now DW has to tell me when it's Sunday.

I know what you mean (I'm still working). I don't have stomach pains, but Sundays are almost a work day, in a sense. By Sunday afternoon, I am thinking about whether the laundry is done and groceries are in for the week, and wanting to spend the late afternoon and evening doing nothing so that I can manage to fall sleep early.

 

[travelover]

Since I retired this March I've lost weight and gained strength (really noticed it backpacking recently). Emotionally - I'm happier than I have been in years. I find myself whistling and sliding on the hardwood floors in my socks - like a kid . I never have those awful tension related neck and upper back aches that I used to have frequently. And yes - Sundays are now just another day.

 

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Stress and illness such as cardiac rhythm problems and sudden death are associated with preceding psychosocial stress. These are very difficult studies to do, but there are some clever tricks (for example, reading heart rhythm in patients who have standby implanted pacemakers and associating the findings with various stressors). The two strongest traits are anger/hostility and anxiety disorders (especially with various phobias). These are probably related to excess levels of adrenalin-like chemicals in the body, produced by the adrenals in response to brain signals (hypothalamus) induced by stress.

The old "Type A Personality" theory is probably explained by these more specific traits.

It's hard to imagine any aspect of voluntary, secure, retirement that wouldn't reduce overall stress. However, if the timing or quality of FIRE induces financial insecurity, domestic strife, or other stress generators it might be no better than working. Leaving the horrible job may be worse than embarking on retirement where you worry about money every month, can't get health insurance, have a poor self-image, and are constantly fighting with the DW/DH.

At some primal biochemical level, the decision of when to FIRE could be defined as that point where the anticipated stress of retirement (all things considered) becomes less than that of continued work.

You can't fool your hypothalamus.

 

[Martha]

Nice post Rich.

 

[happy2bretired]

Since I lost my husband two months before I retired I think my stress level and illnesses during my first year and a half of retirement were related to the loss of my husband...not retirement. I believe that what Rich said is extremely true. Right now, I feel that I am in a good place stresswise...things are beginning to calm down for me and retirement is good. My health over the last year and a half has awoken a desire or a need to improve my health in retirement. My stress level is really pretty good right now.

 

[Achiever51]

When I was working I had two episodes that each put me in the hospital overnight. Both times I thought I was having a heart attack after experiencing very high levels of stress at work. It turned out that both episodes were stress induced panic attacks -- and each had symptoms that closely resembled heart problems. Fortunately, I was not having cardiac problems, but the doctors counseled me that if I didn't address the stress in a major way, my next visit would likely be either a M.I. or a stroke.

I know people who say they operate better under stress. Well, maybe at some level, but when you can't breathe, you have pain in your jaw, and you can't remember the names of your family members, you've crossed the line. I know I did and I wouldn't want to go there again.

Once I retired and started taking better care of my physical and mental health, my stress level has declined probably 90%. I find myself in such a pleasant state of mind most days, very much at peace with myself and truly enjoying everything -- even routine chores like the laundry! I truly can say that now life is good.

 

[Nords]

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/i-m-best-shape-my-life-15201.html

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f38/anyone-feel-better-retirement-25075.html#post465633

 

[tangomonster]

Even while working, I had low blood pressure and cholesterol, etc.---just the luck of the draw with genetics. But I felt awful---uptight, agitated, nervous. No more!

DH had more issues with medical stuff and now feels much better. In fact, he went to the dentist last week and they felt his gums had improved. I never even tied it to a year of retirement, but you may be on to something, Khan!

 

[CuppaJoe]

I've changed j*bs many times over the years and tended to gravitate toward kinds of job that have less of that awful stress. Even so, I ended up in the ER one evening with a 90% blocked LAD artery, after spending the afternoon cleaning up everything in the office that needed to be done and asking myself repeatedly, "is this a good time to check into the hospital [considering business reasons!]." Much of my current j*b stress is hidden by a big wall I put up between myself and clients' problems.

I have absolutely no doubt the big R will improve my health many fold.

 

[W2R]

I am so stressed out by my job today that I can feel my BP rise, and it is usually normal! I am exhausted and tired and miserable, and if I didn't have my eyes on the light at the end of the tunnel, life would be unbearable. Well, today anyway.

Just thought I'd refresh the memories of those who have already ER'd, in case they are wondering if they left too early.

If I can stick it out for two more years, I will get lifetime free medical. Otherwise I would quit today.

 

[CuppaJoe]

I am so stressed out by my job today that I can feel my BP rise, and it is usually normal! I am exhausted and tired and miserable, and if I didn't have my eyes on the light at the end of the tunnel, life would be unbearable. Well, today anyway.

Sometimes, I read the posts here and what to scream at other people's pain or just put myself "out to lunch," I can relate to so much of it.

I'd be interested in knowing what people do to try and make their jobs more pleasant, while waiting. (There goes Godet again, all ye theater buffs.)

I don't have any an advice, Want2Retire, but hope that most of your days are better than this one.

 

[Caroline]

If I can stick it out for two more years, I will get lifetime free medical. Otherwise I would quit today.

Boy, this really hits a chord with me.

I've been thinking about this and so many other ironies surrounding work and retirement (and wondering why I didn't noticed them years ago).

1. I need health coverage in case I get sick, but the job I have to stay at to maintain coverage is MAKING me sick. (My back hurts from sitting all day, I have carpal tunnel from computing all day, I have 20 extra pounds from stress eating and multi-tasking lunch and work, etc. etc.)

2. I need to work for dental coverage, but the job I have to stay at to maintain dental coverage causes me to grind my teeth and I've had to get crowns as a result.

3. I need to work to make money to travel, but I only have 4 weeks a year in which to get away. (Worse, I modified my vacation this year, and skipped international travel last year because the planning it would take seemed too stressful.)

4. I need to work to afford my mortgage, but I don't enjoy my house because I'm always AT work or exhausted AFTER work. (Worse, the lovely vintage house I bought is in need of repair because I'm too tired and unmotivated to spiff it up.)

5. (This one isn't mine, but others have it) -- I need to work to support my kids, but I work so much I never see them.

6. I need to work to afford retirement, but 3 colleagues working at these same stress levels dropped dead at work in the past few years and were carried out feet first.

7. I made twice as much as my partner last year, but the IRS / State took a larger chunk as a result.

I'm probably missing a lot more.

I'm not sharing all this to sound bitter, but they say you have to recognize a problem before you can solve it, and this work business is starting to look like a problem.

 

[W2R]

Sometimes, I read the posts here and what to scream at other people's pain or just put myself "out to lunch," I can relate to so much of it.

I'd be interested in knowing what people do to try and make their jobs more pleasant, while waiting. (There goes Godet again, all ye theater buffs.)

I don't have any an advice, Want2Retire, but hope that most of your days are better than this one.

Thanks, Joe. Me too!! I'm sure they will be. Only 772 more (counting weekends) until I qualify for that lifetime medical.

And Caroline, you are so right. Often our chains are self-imposed and not necessary.

With my luck, when I finally retire it will turn out that I didn't need lifetime medical (due to national health care, or some other change in our health care system).

 

[Nords]

Just thought I'd refresh the memories of those who have already ER'd, in case they are wondering if they left too early.

Er, thanks anyway, but, uhm... no.

I'd be interested in knowing what people do to try and make their jobs more pleasant, while waiting.

I was almost always able to take a break and walk around the buildings for a while to monitor the teaching, talk with people, fuss with the equipment, and sometimes even find inspiration/help on the problems I was working. At sea you'd get into a mood and feel that life sucked, but then equipment would break or someone would run a drill set and you'd find out just how bad life could really suck.

At the training command, being able to run the fire & flooding systems was just a bonus...

I need to work for dental coverage, but the job I have to stay at to maintain dental coverage causes me to grind my teeth and I've had to get crowns as a result.

My father slept with a mouthguard for years, ground through several of them, and I think he's finally free of them.

 

[CuppaJoe]

Only 772 more (counting weekends) until I qualify for that lifetime medical.

Thanks for the idea, Want2Retire, I am so far behind; I haven't set up the count yet. Here it is, I have just the right "tool" in my desk (a wheel showing how many days from one date to another) First available R date is 214 days! 'spose then I'll say the summer is so easy at work might as well go 332 days. Next plan will be to talk myself back to 214. I'll set that wheel up on my desk, perhaps on a fancy easel.

 

[W2R]

Thanks for the idea, Want2Retire, I am so far behind; I haven't set up the count yet. Here it is, I have just the right "tool" in my desk (a wheel showing how many days from one date to another) First available R date is 214 days! 'spose then I'll say the summer is so easy at work might as well go 332 days. Next plan will be to talk myself back to 214. I'll set that wheel up on my desk, perhaps on a fancy easel.

My plan has been to work for 1035 more days, so that I can contribute my $20K for 2010 to my TSP before I retire. But if the next 772 days are like today, I'll leave earlier than that! 772 is my first goal, and once I am there I can play it by ear.

I compute my days on a worksheet in my retirement Excel file, and then write it on my whiteboard. Each day I change the number. Nobody has asked what it is, yet.

 

[Alan]

If I can stick it out for two more years, I will get lifetime free medical. Otherwise I would quit today.

That is exactly the with with me also. (29 months)

The ways I try and keep the stress down at work are the usual ones such as
- leaving the office at lunchtime (I used to walk at lunch until 3 years back when I moved to 3 miles away so now I go home).
- fixed time to exercise after work. Used to join DW at 5:30 every evening for exercising together at home, Now go to gymn/exercise class at YMCA straight from work
- get up and walk around the floor, building fairly regularly during the day.
- and something I've just done again this week and have done every vacation for the last 5 years ----> before going on vacation for a week or longer, set out of office reply to tell people you are on vacation and will not read old mail on return - so if it is really important to re-send it after you return - then on return delete all mail while you have been away. (I used to keep some large files that I would put in my fail file to put it over the size limit so that incoming mail would be returned by the company changed the mail policy)

 

[Alan]

As for lower stress in retirement leading to better health, I don't expect to see any as I am very healthy now. However I very occaisionally see my old boss who retired about 18 months back. He too didn't have any obvious health problems but says he feels much better. Last time I saw him I asked what he was using to dye his hair (he isn't the vain type who bothers about this sort of thing). He said that it is amazing but his gray hair is disappearing (he is 59). I've not heard that before. Gray hair is not my problem as I don't have any. I wonder if lower stress in retirement will help me grow some back O0

 

[W2R]

That is exactly the with with me also. (29 months)

Ah! Misery loves company. Only 26 months here.

The ways I try and keep the stress down at work are the usual ones such as
- leaving the office at lunchtime (I used to walk at lunch until 3 years back when I moved to 3 miles away so now I go home).

I used to do that, until Katrina. Traffic became so bad that I started just eating at my desk. It's better, now, and I could start going home for lunch again.

- fixed time to exercise after work. Used to join DW at 5:30 every evening for exercising together at home, Now go to gymn/exercise class at YMCA straight from work

That's probably part of the source of my stress. I have been feeling tired/sick and haven't been to the gym this week.

- get up and walk around the floor, building fairly regularly during the day.
- and something I've just done again this week and have done every vacation for the last 5 years ----> before going on vacation for a week or longer, set out of office reply to tell people you are on vacation and will not read old mail on return - so if it is really important to re-send it after you return - then on return delete all mail while you have been away. (I used to keep some large files that I would put in my fail file to put it over the size limit so that incoming mail would be returned by the company changed the mail policy)

That's a GREAT idea! Actually, I haven't taken much vacation time at all in months, but if I don't take some pretty soon I am going to have to take "use or lose" at the end of the year.

 

[Martha]

Caroline, do you have to work so hard?

 

[Khan]

As for lower stress in retirement leading to better health, I don't expect to see any as I am very healthy now. However I very occaisionally see my old boss who retired about 18 months back. He too didn't have any obvious health problems but says he feels much better. Last time I saw him I asked what he was using to dye his hair (he isn't the vain type who bothers about this sort of thing). He said that it is amazing but his gray hair is disappearing (he is 59). I've not heard that before. Gray hair is not my problem as I don't have any. I wonder if lower stress in retirement will help me grow some back O0

My gray hair has decreased quite a bit; I assume it will eventually come back (I'm 57).

 

[travelover]

My gray hair has decreased quite a bit; I assume it will eventually come back (I'm 57).

It seems to have worked for Osama Bid Laden (last video)

 

[Khan]

What amazes me about the health improvements is that they are ongoing/cumulative. I am in better condition than I was three years ago, two years ago, one year ago.

The checkout person, at the grocery store I've been frequenting for almost 30 years, did a double take. She only recognized me from the name on the affinity card.

People ask: "What did you do?"

'I retired.'

While working, all the negative things reinforced each other into a downward spiral: obesity, high BP, arthritis pain, bad sleep, stress eating, too worn out to exercise...

Now the reinforcements are positive and the spiral is up.

I have noticed attitude improvements: less impatient, bitter, depressed... That was also part of the downward spiral.

Am I happy?
Sometimes.

I am definitely content, mellow, relaxed and have come to terms with myself.

It's not all pretty, but it's me; and I can live with what was and work on what is and could be.

Almost three years of introspection has been interesting.