(Kim Jackson) -  One of my best friends asked me a question yesterday. Why do people lie to themselves? And I could not even begin to tell you the many scenarios that we created where people lied to themselves. Like a man that's 6'4" and 275 pounds squeezing into a tiny red sports car...it's ALWAYS red. Or that gurl (yes...I know I spelled that wrong...I know what I'm doing; trust me) in serious need of a relaxer or hot comb wearing a silky ponytail. See? I told you I knew what I was doing. Then there are the self damaging lies. I know he came in the house at 5 in the morning smelling like soap and Victoria's Secret, but he was at the bar with his friends. I know she's two months pregnant and I haven’t touched her in four, but that’s my baby.

My momma used to say, "You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time. And you damn sure can't fool yourself." We, as humans, have an internal animalistic instinct of self preservation that arises within us at times of pain and fear:

Self preservation is part of an organisms's instinct that demands that the organism survives. Pain and fear are parts of this mechanism. Pain causes discomfort so that the organism is inclined to stop the pain. Fear causes the organism to seek safety and may cause a release of adrenaline which has the effect of increased strength and heightened senses such as hearing, smell, and sight.

So, I'm confused. Why is it that when a person is confronted with pain and fear; such as finally coming to terms that the person you love is not only a lousy boyfriend or girlfriend, but is just despicable as a person...that some of us go into denial? I know, I know...they don't want to lose that lousy person. But, seriously? Here's a tiny health lesson...STRESS CAN KILL YOU! What? You don't believe me? Okay...how's this? You stay up all night because your boo is out until five in the morning and you have to get up at seven to get ready for work. Working with only two hours of sleep under your belt, you hop in your car (seriously sleep deprived) and you fall asleep at the wheel; causing an accident, where the potential for critical injuries and possibly death can occur.

Fine...that was a little dramatic. But, how is this for dramatic? The following are seven of the major health effects caused by stress:

1. Diabetes

Diabetes occurs when the body produces too little insulin to process all the sugars in your body. As these sugars build up, you may experience a number of health problems including thirst, headaches and weight loss. Over time, the condition can cause complications ranging from heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, eye damage, nerve damage, diabetic neuropathy, skin conditions, and gastrointestinal problems.

2. High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is often referred to as a "silent killer" because there are few actual symptoms that present with the disease. High levels of stress can bring on this condition, which can result in an aneurysm, coronary heart disease, enlarged heart, damage to the brain and even heart attack. If that isn't a good enough reason to learn to manage your stress – I don't know what is!

3. Weight Gain

People under high levels of stress often experience fluctuations in weight – as anyone who's ever taken comfort in candy bars knows all to well. However, if your weight gain gets out of control, you could be putting yourself at risk for developing cancer, heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, sleep apnea, liver disease and gallbladder disease. If you notice that you've put on a few pounds, try hitting the gym – exercise is also a natural stress reliever.

4. Susceptibility to Disease

Your body can only do so much – when you're under constant pressure, its resources are being diverted to help respond to stress. This leaves the immune system compromised and susceptible to infection by viruses and bacteria. If you've ever noticed yourself coming down with a bug when you're at your most stressed, it isn't just a coincidence – It's your body letting you know that you're under too much stress to handle safely.

5. Depression

Constant stress can make you feel like there's no way out of your predicament, which can eventually lead to feelings of hopelessness and depression. Depression is a serious disease – It's nothing to take lightly. If you find yourself feeling trapped by feelings of despair and despondency, seek professional help immediately.

6. Heart Disease

Type A people beware – stress can and does cause heart disease and heart attacks. Stress contributes to the buildup of plaque in the arteries. As the arteries narrow, the heart has to push the blood even harder to distribute it throughout the body. Over time, this extra stress on the heart can have devastating effects.

7. Cancer

While there's no proven link between stress and cancer, It's widely accepted that excessive stress is a risk factor for developing a type of this deadly disease. Overall, stress weakens the immune system which may allow cancerous tissues to develop and flourish. If you feel that excessive negative stress is causing your immune system to break down, seek help to learn effective stress management techniques that allow you to cope properly.

With all of the world's problems that contribute to the breakdown of our health as a whole; artificial preservatives in our food or that atrocity that we call air 'quality'. Not to mention the things that we do to each other; murder and suicides because we didn't get tenure or being jealous of a child. (And that's just what happened this week) It's scary sad that our levels of self preservation automatically rise with each passing year due to the world that we live in. But, it's even scarier to know that some people are willing to risk their own lives; all to prevent a little heartache. Wounds heal with time; but death is final. They don't call it 'Curtains' for nothing.