Who would you guess is the most stressed-out person in America? Fireman? Stock broker? Air traffic controller? Think again. Chances are you know the person and she looks something like Debbie Watkins. 

 

 

 

"It's oh, I'm not spending enough time with mom. Then if I go over and try to spend more time with her, then I'm thinking, my kids need more of my time, my husband needs more of my time or my job. "

 

 

 

Let me give you a headline. Medical experts say this could be the first generation of women who do not outlive their male counterparts by 5 to 7 years. According to the Gallup-Healthways well-being index, middle aged American women have the lowest well-being of any age group or sex, and this is why. 

 

 

 

"Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Come on. "

 

 

 

Debbie gets up with the son. Her kids still live at home. She works a full-time job, takes a lunch break to visit her mom who recently suffered a stroke and she's trying to balance her marriage, all well attempting to stay healthy. 

 

 

 

"Yeah, those days I want to find a corner and, you know, curl myself up and get away from everybody and everything."

 

 

 

This is a wake up call for middle aged women to change their behavior now. 

 

 

 

"Women really need to take care of themselves first. Like the old adage, when you are flying on the plane, put your own oxygen mask on first before you assist others."

 

 

 

Gail Sheehy, writer for USA today and recently wrote about today's midlife women. 

 

 

 

"They are not making healthy choices. And they don't think they can had(have). Because they would feel too guilty of taking the time away from caring for their families. "

 

 

 

"So what is a woman like Debbie to do? "

 

 

 

"Well, she has to get other people to trade off with her. And then she will do it for them because their parents are gonna need help, too. "

 

 

 

She calls it a circle of care, essentially carpooling the stresses in our lives, where relatives and friends pitch in to help each other. She also recommends at least one hour of time each day to do something for yourself. 

 

 

 

Debbie's already taking this advices to heart. And in doing so, could just be adding years to her life. 

 

 

 

Linsey Davis, ABC News, New York.