For people who are struggling with a chronic disease, it can sound like a thoughtless insult when they are told to think happy thoughts and stay positive when it comes to their illness. After all, you try staying positive when you’re constantly dealing with fatigue, hair loss, weight gain, depression, and a host of other life-altering symptoms of Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism. Approximately 27 million Americans are suffering from hypothyroidism, and obviously it cannot be cured by staying positive.
But Are They Wrong?
That advice, while annoying, isn’t totally off base. Research on the power of positive thinking is inconclusive, but it does show some benefit to staying optimistic. For example, it can help you to cope more effectively with your illness, and keep on track with your treatment plan.
A study was published in 2012 that looked at patients with chronic disease who used the power of positive thinking. The subjects who thought of something happy each morning and utilized self-affirmation strategies to deal with difficult situations turned out to be more compliant with their treatment plans, and also exercised more than the subjects who did not make an effort to use positive thoughts to their benefit. There are older studies that show that patients with strong spiritual beliefs are able to cope better with medical problems and suffer less stress than people who are not spiritual or religious.
On the other hand, other studies have shown no correlation at all between positive thinking and improved health. In fact, the constant pressure to stay positive can cause more stress and make patients feel as if they’ve failed if they are unable to keep a good attitude at all times.
Lower Your Stress Levels To Help Stay Positive
The fact of the matter is that a chronic illness like Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism (an autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid gland) is going to involve some emotional lows. Holding back your real emotions to try to appear positive and optimistic is not going to help you. However, there is plenty of evidence to show that lowering your stress levels can have a measurable impact on your health, and a natural result of lowered stress is an elevated mood. Feeling better emotionally will naturally increase your ability to cope with a chronic disease such as Hashimoto’s.
A great strategy for improving your mood is to change your actions rather than your thoughts. Just a few small changes in your daily routine can add up to great benefits for your mood and well-being. For example, the subjects in the study cited above were advised to think about something that made them happy, both first thing in the morning and whenever they experienced a negative event. And as we mentioned previously, a strong spiritual affiliation can be very beneficial. Additionally, strong friendships and social relationships have been shown to increase the likelihood of survival by as much as 50 percent!
And don’t forget about exercise. A strenuous weight-lifting or dance class might not be an option for someone dealing with the fatigue that comes with Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, but even a gentle walk or swim can be extremely beneficial to your mental and physical health.
While it won’t cure your disease, thinking positively certainly can’t hurt! When looking at all the evidence available, it’s hard to deny that keeping an optimistic attitude can be a tremendous help when it comes to dealing with a chronic illness.