‘LFS’ symptoms to look out for as new disorder emerges
Topics: Health, Mental Health
Britt Jones
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images
Topics: Health, Mental Health
A new health condition has been gaining traction, and you might just know someone with it.
In an age where healthy trends are always doing the rounds, it can be easy to get caught up in it.
From matcha, to the popular ‘hyrox’ exercise, and even the ginger shot trend- people are constantly finding ways to optimise their health. And let’s not forget about Bryan Johnson, who has dedicated his like to biohacking his body in a bid to live as long as possible. He even spends $2 million a year to keep up with his long list of daily needs which aims to reverse the cellular age of his organs, skin, and overall health.
But this obsession with longevity seems to have turned into a problem for some.
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In fact, it now has its own condition name, and is classed as a health disorder known as Longevity Fixation Syndrome (LFS).
Experts at Paracelsus Recovery have spoken about it to The Mirror, revealing that people are exhibiting signs that could be mistaken for other issues.
"We are seeing a growing number of people whose lives are being dominated by the fear of ageing and decline, so much so that we have identified it as a new condition, Longevity Fixation Syndrome," said Jan Gerber, the founder and CEO of Paracelsus Recovery. "What starts as self‑care becomes obsessive self‑surveillance. The stress generated by this mindset can be so intense that it actively shortens lifespan rather than extending it."
Those who are obsessed with living longer, might display signs of stress and anxiety as they worry about what they are consuming, their lifestyle, how they sleep, breathe, look, and so much more.
This constant body monitoring is something that Gerber says is having the opposite effect than they intend, and you simply can’t be health without a healthy mind too.
"Anxiety and loneliness are not separate from the pursuit of longevity; they are often the forces driving it," Gerber said. "The longest‑lived people are not those exerting the tightest control over their bodies, but those who feel connected and emotionally supported."
However, one thing people can do to really ‘biohack’ themselves for longevity, is to have ‘a calm and resilient mind,’ he said.
In the wake of this new term, even Johnson has been linked to the syndrome in an article by The Times, which he shared on Facebook with a scathing response on 15 January: “Hi. My name is Bryan. I have an addiction. Longevity Fixation Syndrome. I've been sober from dying for five years now. I've lost the ability to relate to people who want to. I feel trapped in a prison of health. Please help.”
Of course, we can’t diagnose people with LFS, so if Johnson says he doesn’t have the condition, then he doesn’t have the condition.