The findings of a new 10-year study reveal that women who force themselves to remain calm during fights with their spouses are at a higher risk of death and have a higher incidence of stress-related diseases like depression and irritable bowel syndrome.

In fact, women who "self-silence" were four times more likely to die than women who let it all out during arguments, according to the research conducted by Dr. Elaine D. Eaker of Eaker Epidemiology Enterprises in Gaithersburg, Md.

In my opinion, this research seems to prove what many women already know: You just gotta let it out! Why keep it all in? Express yourself to your spouse, partner, ex, kids, etc.

Eaker study examined behavior, incidence of heart disease and mortality within marriage. She wanted to understand the dynamics of what really goes on in a marriage during arguments. Her research also confirmed that marriage is good for men's health and that married men enjoy better health compared to unmarried men. We wonder if that's the case even when the men are terribly unhappy and stressed in their relationships.

Eaker's research, published in the July/August issue of Psychosomatic Medicine, suggests that men and women need to take a closer look at the changing roles and expectations for husbands and wives and in general, men and women in society. Too, she notes that marriage partners need to offer one another a safe place to express feelings of conflict before it's too late and the marriage ends in divorce.

First Wives World readers have come to know that our Debbie Nigro is a multi-talented and versatile woman who loves to shake things up--on her show, on the blog, in her life...Now, she's shakin' things up in your underwear drawer!

Yes, that's right...Debbie's latest guest column on About.com's Divorce Support channel is about changin' it up and changing out your undies. Going through a divorce? Go through your underwear collection while you're at it and revitalize your stock of bras, panties, body slimmers and heck, don't forget the stockings and garters...!

One of the best ways to move on after a divorce or when you're in the thick of a split, is to scout out new undergarments for every occasion and every mood. You'll feel better, sexier and like a new person. Take it from Debbie! Check out her column, the first in a regular series on About.com...

More Lohan family news today: Actress Lindsay Lohan's father withdrew a request to have his estranged wife tested for drugs. Michael and Dina Lohan appeared in court yesterday to discuss custody and child support arrangements for their two minor kids Ali and Dakota. Michael has admitted to alcohol abuse; he alleges that Dina takes pills. Lindsay was arrested more than a week ago for cocaine possession and driving while under the influence--she was sprung from rehab three weeks ago.

Michael said that withdrawing the request might improve his chances of being granted visitation rights with his children. He was released from prison in March and currently only has telephone calls with his daughter Ali,13, and her brother, Dakota, 10. Lindsay, 21, and her brother Michael Lohan Jr., 19, aren't involved in the custody and visitation deal since they are no longer minors.

Family Court Judge Stacy D. Bennett is now waiting for the results of a review by a family therapist, which is due Sept. 6. The Lohans are due back in divorce court Aug. 10.

Click here for more.

First Wives World has a terrific column featured on About.com's Guide to Divorce Support. The Guide's coordinator, Cathy Meyer, graciously asked our own Debbie Nigro to write a guest column for a series she's running this week on "Moving On."

Well, guess what? No one has more experience with movin' on and movin' up than Debbie, who has successfully reinvented her personal and professional life, post-divorce, with incredible energy and verve. She's resilient, and so are you!

In fact, that's the message of her piece on About called "A Formula For Getting Back to Great." It's all about women being in control of their destiny and plodding ahead, putting one foot in front of the other to embrace the present and, of course, the future.

Cathy and her team of experts are providing valuable information and resources that can help get you through. In fact, About has everything from chat rooms where you can swap ideas and information, to advice columns on dating, legal and financial issues and tips on how to deal with your kids in a divorce. They've got everything!

So check it out...but stay tuned to FirstWivesWorld.com because we're on the cusp of some exciting plans that will help you navigate divorce no matter what stage you're in--in fact, we're going to get you through each phase not only with useful resources and support from other women, but you'll be there with a smile on your face because we've got some fun, new shows that will entertain and tickle you as you discover that your best self lies ahead...

Yes, stay tuned. We can't wait...! And, check out Debbie's column here.

Some serious news from down under: It appears that divorced Australian baby-boomers are a lot less happy as they approach retirement and suffer more physical and mental health problems than their married friends.

Researchers have known for a while that people who live alone—
whether due to divorce or the death of a spouse—suffer more from depression and physical ailments, so this insight isn’t such a revelation.

Research by the Australian Institute of Family Studies notes that no matter how many years have passed since their split, divorced baby-boomers are less satisfied than their married friends. Researchers found that divorced women who remain single are less happy than widows in the same situation.

The research also found that "older divorced single Australians are much more likely to experience material hardships than the married never-divorced", with home ownership, asset levels and income all lower for divorced people.

But the findings weren’t all negative: People who remarry following divorce can recover much of their financial situation.

Click here for more.

Last night’s episode of the “Ex-Wives Club” followed a new pattern by offering an in-depth analysis of the failed, 13-year marriage of Lynn Jones, 39.

Lynn, a breast cancer survivor, used spyware to access the password on her husband, Brian’s computer, on which she discovered his affair. The irony is the other woman was known to Lynn because their sons were on the same baseball team. She found out that Brian and his lover kept a secret apartment for at least seven months.

At the Debbie Ford Retreat Center in California, Lynn painfully released her anger and started the healing process. An education insurance salesperson, Lynn had used up all of her assets obtaining a divorce. She was in such a challenging economic situation that she shouldn't afford to feed her dog and was forced to take it to the pound. Viewers would have benefited from hearing more specific details about the divorce.

For revenge, “Ex-Wives” hosts Marla Maples, Shar Johnson and Angie Everhart convinced Lynn to destroy her husband’s pride and joy—his boat. They drill holes in the gasoline tank and set off an explosion and fire in the lake. Environmentally, how this could have been allowed, is difficult to fathom. Why didn’t she just sell the boat? In my opinion, the revenge bits in each show have been weak and ridiculous and they overshadow the good parts.

A most revealing moment was Marla Maples’ confession that she was “the other woman” in a divorce. Her explanation was too brief. But then again, Maples has a gag order preventing her from commenting on Donald Trump to whom she was married; the couple have one child, Tiffany. Maples was the reason for Trump’s split with Ivana, his first wife and mother of his first three kids.

Here’s a new one: A woman is divorcing her husband because she woke up early one morning to find her husband trying to have sex with her; she even had to fight him off.

The husband couldn’t remember the “attack.”

The incident happened once. When it happened again, the woman sent him to the basement and then filed for divorce.

The guy apparently suffers from something called sexomnia, a sleep disorderthat’s increasingly wrecking marriages and resulting in unwitting cases of rape, incest and sexual molestation.

For more on this story, click here:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/06102007/news/regionalnews/sexed_up_snoozers_on_attack_regionalnews_susan_edelman.htm

Take the case of a couple in Lahore, India where a court ordered their arrest after doctors said the groom was a woman, despite a sex-change operation.

Ejaz Bhatty said that Shumail Raj, 31, told doctors he had visited a doctor 16 years ago after his voice changed and he grew facial hair. The doctor advised gender reassignment and operated to remove breasts and uterus. The judge said Raj had given a sworn statement to the court that he was a man and complaining that his wife's relatives and police were threatening the couple with "dire consequences" if they did not divorce.

This tale really defies reality. But then again, there are so many different realities. Cultural taboos in India would appear to have far-reaching implications. Could such a thing happen in this country?

For more information on this story, click here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2077046,00.html