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I think if people didn't have smoking / drinking / overeating as coping mechanisms they might find healthy alternatives like exercise / altruism / creativity. L

I think if people didn't have smoking / drinking / overeating as coping mechanisms they might find healthy alternatives like exercise / altruism / creativity. Look at seventh day Adventists in Loma Linda (not a member myself), they live a long time and are very happy. For many, the last 20 years are only miserable because they didn't take care of themselves. It's possible to be 80 and active / healthy/ happy.

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siftrics 4y ago
As a cancer survivor and former alcoholic, I am one example of a person who has found healthy coping mechanisms. Instead of coping with alcohol, I read math textbooks and do problems. This has improved my life dramatically. I feel good. I feel proud. And despite optimizing for happiness as opposed to wealth, this coping strategy has made me loads of money. I should mention my cancer occurred in my childhood, so it's not as though my drinking was a cause.
StanislavPetrov 4y ago
>For many, the last 20 years are only miserable because they didn't take care of themselves. Considering that about 40 million adult Americans are on anti-depressants (smoking and drinking aside), it seems like more of an issue then just failing physical health of the elderly.
- oaktrout 4y ago
  Fair, I thought I was replying to the idea that old age must be miserable, but on re-reading I see that the poster I was replying to may have meant something else. Still, smokers not wanting the last 20 do themselves a disservice by disabling themselves and their hopes of redemption. They often do not die sudden deaths that bring them respite, instead many spend years struggling for breath hooked to oxygen tanks. I think these initially rebellious smokers see themselves as going out in a blaze of glory, but COPD is anything but.

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I think if people didn't have smoking / drinking / overeating as coping mechanisms they might find healthy alternatives like exercise / altruism / creativity. L

by oaktrout 4y ago

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
siftrics 4y ago
As a cancer survivor and former alcoholic, I am one example of a person who has found healthy coping mechanisms. Instead of coping with alcohol, I read math textbooks and do problems. This has improved my life dramatically. I feel good. I feel proud. And despite optimizing for happiness as opposed to wealth, this coping strategy has made me loads of money. I should mention my cancer occurred in my childhood, so it's not as though my drinking was a cause.
StanislavPetrov 4y ago
>For many, the last 20 years are only miserable because they didn't take care of themselves. Considering that about 40 million adult Americans are on anti-depressants (smoking and drinking aside), it seems like more of an issue then just failing physical health of the elderly.
- oaktrout 4y ago
  Fair, I thought I was replying to the idea that old age must be miserable, but on re-reading I see that the poster I was replying to may have meant something else. Still, smokers not wanting the last 20 do themselves a disservice by disabling themselves and their hopes of redemption. They often do not die sudden deaths that bring them respite, instead many spend years struggling for breath hooked to oxygen tanks. I think these initially rebellious smokers see themselves as going out in a blaze of glory, but COPD is anything but.