What does "add years to my life" mean? [closed]

When EB White wrote that the moments of despair added years to his life, he meant that they made him feel years older than his real age.


put years on someone or put years on (one) TFD idioms

To cause someone to look, act, or feel much older than they are.

As in:

I'm not even 30, but having two kids has put years on me!