Can A Negative Attitude Affect Your Health?

Researchers have found time and again that people who possess a generally positive mental attitude are more likely to lead healthier and longer lives. The Mayo Clinic says that positive thinking is crucial in supporting overall health and promoting healing from illness or injury. Clinical studies where patients had been given placebos show what a significant role our thoughts can play. Often these patients respond quite positively to the placebo treatment because they believe that they are getting some form of medicine — the body reacts to this positive thinking.

Positive thinking methods help general health in a number of ways:

• When used consistently, positive thinking diminishes depression and anxiety and allows you to build up healthy coping skills.
• When the body is under less stress, it is better able to focus its energy and efforts on healing.
• Positive thinking can also strengthen immunity, which helps fight certain illnesses.
• A positive attitude is essential when changing unhealthy behaviors like smoking and overeating.

A positive attitude sets up positive conditions for change. Believing that you will feel better sends this message to your body, for example: picture yourself doing things you love without pain. Your positive thoughts help you focus on what you need to do to recover from injury or pain and remind you how to stay healthy.

The key to using positive thinking is to consciously replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Focusing on negative thoughts can make the problem seem greater than it is or distract you from addressing the root of the problem, illness or pain. Positive thinking can be used to do a reality check that puts the problem in a realistic perspective — helping you best determine how to move forward.

Replace Negative Thoughts With Positive Thoughts

The Mayo Clinic suggests using positive self-talk throughout the day. If you catch yourself drifting into negative thoughts, stop and immediately replace them with something positive. During your day, occasionally take a break and make the effort to find something positive on which to focus. Remind yourself that focusing on upbeat thoughts will help you heal and support your good health. Eventually, a positive approach will become your default thought pattern, but it takes time to replace ingrained patterns. Be patient with yourself and stay consistent with your positive thinking.
Positive thinking cannot guarantee perfect health, of course, but it can help bring about significant improvements both mentally and physically. 

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