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Optimism and Recuperation

  • Personal Growth
  • Mental Health
  • Podcasts

Optimism and Recuperation

A cheerful approach to life can work wonders. By Brian P. McDonough. This audio file plays for 0 minutes and 53 seconds.

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Just how much of a role does your mind have in getting over an illness? Can your will suggest yourself back to health? Certainly there have been numerous reports suggesting that people with incurable diseases have been cured because of their attitude, but what does science say about it? Actually, you might be surprised. Several recent studies have shown that the mental approach of the patient can have an impact on illness; but the impact is a subtle one. For instance, it is hard to prove that people can will themselves back from heart failure to running marathons or from AIDS to total remission; but there are countless stories of people dealing with illnesses like this, or just as serious, and maximizing their potential. If you add to this the fact that stress reduction and a cheerful approach to life can work wonders - the bottom line: You are better off being optimistic. How you approach an illness can help reduce the chances of the illness getting better of you.

I am Dr. Brian McDonough.

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More about this Topics

  • Beyond the Baby Blues

  • Don't Worry, Breathe Happy

  • Connecting the dots on wellness

  • Deflate the Pressure

  • Managing holiday stress

Other Topics

    • Working Together to Build Resilience and Reduce Stress (International Stress Awareness Day 2022)
    • Remaining Resilient During a Crisis
    • Will There Be a Couch? What to Expect From Counseling
    • Pause Breathe Resume
    • Providing Compassionate Support to Refugee Hosts
    • Helping Children Cope with Trauma When You Feel Its Effects Yourself
    • Preventing Violence After a Natural Disaster (Part 1)
    • Making Time for Yourself
    • Hoarding: The Basics
    • Do Social Ties Affect Our Health?
    • Recognizing depression
    • Preventing Smoking
    • Snoring
    • Talking about suicide
    • Teens and Depression