Is Your Fighting Style Killing You?

Women who stifle their opinions during fights may be putting their health at risk

By Victoria Loustalot

In case you needed another reason to make your feelings known loud and clear, a new study finds that women who clam up during arguments with their spouses are four times more likely to die than women who vocalize their opinions. "Self-silencing" women are also more likely to suffer from depression and irritable bowel syndrome. These results emphasize the necessity of communication between spouses, but they also speak to the value of making your needs a priority. Your mental health does affect your physical health. And taking care of your body and your mind will benefit not only you, but also your husband and your marriage. Take the first step and read on:
Let It Out
No matter what, your hubby isn't always going to please you; sometimes, he's probably going to infuriate you. That's okay. In fact, some experts believe that healthy arguing can increase intimacy. But what is a healthy spat? One that demonstrates that you and your spouse can disagree, yet find a compromise and still love each other when it's all over. However, since it's usually easier to call him a nasty name and storm out of the room, check out these tips for improving communication:



Taking Care of Your Body
It's no secret that stress can manifest itself in physical ways. That cold you always get right before your in-laws visit? It may not be a coincidence. So it isn't surprising that when you bottle up your feelings, your body releases that negativity in other ways. Irritable bowel syndrome, depression and heart disease are more common in women who stay silent.



Taking Care of Your Mind
Unfortunately, stress often feels unavoidable. Women today are frequently overextended, and they usually put themselves last on a long list of people to care for. The irony is that when women don't take the time to nurture their own interests and needs, they can't be the wives, mothers, employees, friends, sisters and daughters they want to be. In other words, all their relationships suffer in one way or another. So, slip into that bubble bath or take that yoga class you've been eyeing — just make sure you don't feel guilty about it!