Thread by @joannachiu

Feel like you’ve aged a decade in 2020? The stress of #COVID19 may actually be adding extra years to your birth age.

I wrote this piece after chatting with a bunch of young people who are feeling much older! !thestar.com/news/canada/20… @TorontoStar

People in their twenties told me they were shocked to discover streaks of grey in their hair, but once they thought more about it, they weren’t surprised.

Have you felt like you've aged more than you should in 2020? In what ways? thestar.com/news/canada/20… @TorontoStar #COVID19

A wide range of studies has shown that stress not only manifests in physical signs like greying hair, weight gain and body aches, extended stress can accelerate aging on a *cellular* level, by shortening the length of each DNA strand! thestar.com/news/canada/20…

With extended chronic stress, people get certain symptoms like fatigue, difficulty thinking through complex thoughts, greying hair and weight gain.

“Perhaps most concerning is a negative impact on our immune system," says @SteveJoordens. thestar.com/news/canada/20…

“Housing is a struggle, and a major source of stress,” says a Vancouver millennial living in a "very dark" basement. She had to cancel a gym membership. Instead, she swims laps at a pool, but has still gained weight. thestar.com/news/canada/20… #COVID19 @TorontoStar

But don't assume your symptoms are rooted in psychological pain.

“The first thing to do is go to a family doctor to at least get some routine examinations,” says @israelhans, a professor of psychiatry. Read more here about how you can repair your health: thestar.com/news/canada/20…

Discussion is open at the end of this article if you'd like to share how you've been feeling. I find that sometimes just knowing you're not going through all the 2020 weirdness-awfulness alone helps a lot. thestar.com/news/canada/20…

There's reason for optimism, too. For Allyson Barry, who has lived through years of abusive relationships that left her in “survival mode,” the resiliency she gained has given her the perspective to weather the anxiety of the ongoing pandemic. thestar.com/news/canada/20… @TorontoStar

Personally, I have most of the above-mentioned symptoms, but also I feel like my lifestyle has become very boring! This week I'm focusing on trying to do new things and to go outside as much as possible so it's not the same-old routine every single day. thestar.com/news/canada/20…

I'm biased but generally, the full articles tend to not be as stress-inducing as headlines/tweets. These are simplified while many stories on COVID have practical info that can be empowering. But experts still suggest limiting the time you spend online! thestar.com/news/canada/20…

If you want the TLDR version of advice from psychologists and people who've weathered illness and trauma, it's to try to take it day by day.

Make a goal of doing something simple each day that's good for your mental and physical health. thestar.com/news/canada/20… #COVID19 #health

I came across a photo of myself from 2019 and I looked like a baby. Maybe next year will be a wonderful year, and we'll all age backwards? #science

https://twitter.com/mishelly_e/status/1326988581781516297