Our thoughts directly affect the body, psychotherapist Thierry Jansen is convinced. What they are, such is the quality of our life — this is clearly confirmed by scientific studies conducted on modern medical equipment.
Psychologies: Does positive thinking really affect our bodies?
Thierry Jansen: Yes, and to be convinced of this, it is enough to observe what happens to us when we learn some good news. We rejoice, our body seems to come alive, we feel a surge of energy: joy and inspiration really strengthen our body.
And when we receive bad news, we get upset or experience stress: tension, a clamp appear in the body, and after a while we feel tired, lack of energy, and become more vulnerable. Now we already know exactly how such an impact is carried out — through the brain (see the figure on the next page). The results of surveys conducted over 20-30 years show that an optimistic attitude to life prolongs it and improves our health. Moreover, scientists believe that the so-called positive thoughts and emotions give the human race an evolutionary advantage, as they help to avoid the harmful effects of stress.
However, a study by Australian scientists* showed that optimists and pessimists with the same form of cancer die equally often…
T. Ya.: To date, an undeniable beneficial effect of positive emotions on the condition of patients with various types of diseases, such as myocardial infarction, allergies, asthma, rheumatic diseases, has been revealed. Therefore, in these cases, patients are shown psychotherapy that accompanies the main treatment. In the case of cancer, indeed, as the results of the study showed, the course of psychotherapy did not help prolong the life of patients. But after all, when we are faced with such a serious disease, we need to think not only about prolonging life, but also about its quality. It is very important that patients could live the period that they are allotted with the greatest possible joy, in the fullness of feelings, with a sense of the meaning of life. After all, any patient knows this: hope helps us feel better and allows us to experience the joy of life from the simplest things.
* Cancer, 2004, vol.100.
So, to feel good, it is enough just to think positively?
T. Ya.: A person is not only a body, he has thoughts, emotions. In addition, he is in constant interaction with other people. The World Health Organization defines health as «a state of physical, mental and social well-being». So, to feel good, just being an optimist is not enough. But it is very difficult to feel good if the thoughts in your head are mostly “bad”!
When we think positively…
… the brain is resting
In the left hemisphere, two zones are simultaneously activated: the anterior cingulate cortex (blue in the figure), which “translates” a positive thought into a positive emotion, and the amygdala (red), which processes this emotion and instructs the brain to switch to “mode recreation».
…the body benefits
Under the influence of the left hemisphere, the parasympathetic nervous system is excited, the production of serotonin (the hormone that regulates our mood) increases. As a result, the body relaxes, recovery mechanisms are activated, and immune defenses are strengthened.