Do You Believe In Positive Thinking As A Treatment For Sickness?

[*Lazer*]

I was just wondering what people thought was the role of attitude in healing an illness. I would really like your opinions and stories pro or con. It is something that is very interesting to me. Thanks

 

[Merelan]

Yes I do. There is nothing like a positive mood and attitude to help the healing process. Ask most doctors and they will tell you. I am sure you have seen it in your work too Lazer. If the person is positive about things and have a strong support system of friends, family and caring medical staff the healing results are far greater then others.

No, I am not saying it is a cure all and Praise God Hallelujah can heal cancer all on it's own, though I am not saying it hasn't either.
I am simply stating, from personal experience and observation over the years, the healing process is faster and more complete when the patient and the others involved keep an upbeat outlook and do not dwell on the worse case scenarios. It also helps though to face those. Not deny that death can happen, but face it, prepare and then move on in the healing.

 

[RudeNastyAssBitch]

Well, If Yer A Scientologist

Then Ya Better Believe!

 

[*Lazer*]

Thanks for your comments it helps to know what you think and believe. I really need to hear this right now and appreciate your thoughts.

 

[Barb Dwyer]

ABSOLUTELY!!!

You know how they say that sex begins in the mind? It's true. You've heard athletes and other champions relate how they visualize themselves winning the race/event/game? They see themselves getting the gold medal or blue ribbon or trophy?

You've no doubt heard of Norman Cousins' works (Anatomy of an Illness). Being in the health care field, I imagine you've witnessed first-hand the power of positive thinking and laughter and good thoughts on a patient's recovery and prognosis.

Didn't Norman Vincent Peale make a cottage industry out of this idea?

I believe in it. Believe it works. Besides, it can't hurt anything to try.

 

[alexander tzara]

I think when you're in a positive frame of mind it can really help your body fight illness. If you think about it, when someone is depressed it makes them more tired and more likely to become run down so that they have less energy to fight the illness.

 

[p_p_man]

I was just wondering what people thought was the role of attitude in healing an illness. I would really like your opinions and stories pro or con. It is something that is very interesting to me. Thanks

I'm a definite believer in the mind over matter theory.

I've used the technique for years to help cure myself of minor internal problems like severe indigestion. I find it's not a matter of just saying to yourself "I feel better, I feel better", over and over again, there's more work involved than that.

Take for instance the idigestion example. I try to relax as much as possible, usually by lying down in a quiet room, and then by closing my eyes I take a journey into my body. Again it's not just a question of being in the spot where the pain is, I have to draw a mind picture of myself entering my body through my mouth or nostrils. I have to see the nostril hairs or the tonsils at the back of my throat. I then have to see my epiglotis and continue travelling until I reach the area that hurts. I try to make the journey as realistic as possible by "seeing" the separate parts of my body I pass working in independent motion. In other words nothing stops just because I'm passing through on my way to somewhere else.

My method of curing differs between imagining I'm dispersing trapped wind either by focusing heat on the area or if that doesn't work with a sharp object like a pin to create holes in an imaginery plastic bag through which the trapped wind can escape. It usually ends with me giving out a long, loud "burrrp" and the pain's gone.

I've used the technique for other minor ailments like constipation, stomach ache, headaches...that sort of thing.

I have over the past two years developed a heart problem but as it's not serious enough to give me anything to focus on except an occasional shortage of breath I haven't been able to use the technique.

For now I'm happy I've got a system that works for other things.

One other thing, if I lose my concentration, either on the journey to the troublesome spot or whilst I'm trying to cure it, I usually have to start the process over again.

It's taken me years to get this much control and in the beginning a lot of experimenting was carried out. For instance at first I used to imagine myself just being at the troublesome spot but that never worked and I gradually realised that by not taking that slow journey through my body I wasn't getting the feeling of being "at one" with it. I discovered that the journey (for me anyway) was an essential part of the process.

Sorry about the use of certain phrases which make this post look spiritual in nature. It's not meant to be. If anything I think I'm practicing self hypnosis in a very amateurish way.

Hope this helps.

 

[OUTSIDER]

YES

 

[*Lazer*]

Thanks for your insights p man I will try that technique. Alex you are right as usual!!

 

[Siren]

Lazer my sweet....

 

[SleepingWarrior]

It helps to be positive, if you arent then you are giving up in my opinion.

 

[*Lazer*]

Thanks for your thoughts Siren. I know it is important to have the love and support of those who care involved in the healing process. It is sometimes difficult to do because of the natural tendency to shield those we love from distress or pain. Like anything it takes practice to learn along with grace and kindness to accept the simplest truths.