Can you really die of boredom

Stay Creative. Take up a new hobby or return to an old one. You never know what new skills you may discover, and brain function is always improved when we have a creative outlet. Keep Up Your Social Life. The biggest enemy of boredom is social activity. Keeping up with friends and family, going on outings, talking on the phone, and community activities allow seniors to stay happy and connected. Volunteer for a worthy cause or charity, join a book club or even sign up to take a class to learn something new.

By: Cristen Conger Updated: Aug 21, Boredom is like an emotional oxymoron. Your mind itches for something to do, but your body doesn't respond. This universal human experience ranks at the bottom of our list of desirable emotions, and while boredom springs from various sources, people report almost uniform sensations of lazy restlessness [source: Martin et al ].

But what happens when that flat-lined feeling doesn't go away? Can you — as the saying beloved to angst-ridden teenagers goes — really die of boredom? Run-of-the-mill boredom alone won't kill you.

But, in a roundabout way, it can pose problems for adolescents. Today's teenagers in particular may be susceptible to boredom from a combination of overstimulation and lack of coping skills when action dies down. Boredom is not always the direct cause of death. But, all because you got bored you might get the bright idea to go gambling, get drunk, crash your car, and boom just like that your dead. So think, because your math teacher is giving you the most boring lecture in the world you got a bad idea, and ended up dead.

I suppose you could if you so wished, but boredom was the real culprit. Each day our curiosity system devotes our efforts toward the pursuit of all the traditional rewards of the world - water, food, warmth or coolness depending on our internal thermostat , sexual gratification, and social relationships. When our needs are fulfilled, curiosity promotes enthusiastic exploration of the world, helping create new knowledge and promote new interests.

And when new and uncertain situation arouse anxiety and fear, instead of being paralyzed, we explore instead of avoid. To find out about these life saving tips, read Curious? Discover the Missing Ingredient to a Fulfilling Life. Todd B. Kashdan is a clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at George Mason University. For more about his books, research, and services, go to www. News U. Politics Joe Biden Congress Extremism. Special Projects Highline. HuffPost Personal Video Horoscopes.

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