How Negative Talk, Fear, and Belief Affect Our Health
I’ve been hearing a lot of worries from my friends and clients lately about getting sick, whether it’s colds, flus, or COVID. They’re concerned about taking time off work or, even worse, ending up with long-lasting symptoms like ‘long COVID’! These conversations got me thinking about how much our thoughts impact our health. But first, I want to emphasize that health isn’t always as simple as it seems.
It’s Not Just in the Mind
Our health is impacted by a variety of factors, including lifestyle choices, stress levels, and genetic susceptibility. The system is intricate and goes beyond the power of the mind alone. However, that doesn’t mean we should discount the role our thoughts play. Studies confirm negative beliefs can inflict actual harm, supporting the reality of the nocebo effect.
Research demonstrated that a person who is perfectly healthy but mistakenly informed of having cancer can ultimately perish solely based on their thoughts (study). WOW! While the mind isn’t everything, its influence is clearly significant!
My Personal Experience
I saw this in my own life during Christmas 2022. Both of my daughters got hit with a terrible vomiting bug. It was the worst I’ve witnessed as a mama. Fortunately, homeopathic China provided some relief! In our house, we don’t use medication for fever, which is why I sleep near my children for convenient ‘middle-of-the-night’ monitoring. I was there around the clock, taking care of them nonstop, making sure they were comfortable, hydrated, and doing everything possible to help them recover, which, of course, required a lot of close contact.
During that time, I was right in the middle of it, exposed to all the “fluids”, but I didn’t get sick! Why? I think it’s because I repeatedly reinforced the idea that I was strong and healthy to myself. I told myself that my body was strong enough and I would stay well. And you know what? It worked!! Even though there was sickness all around me, I stayed healthy. My son didn’t get sick either! He was too busy with learning new scooter tricks to even worry about getting sick (smart boy!)! My hubby, who was TERRIFIED of becoming ill from the girls, ended up hugging the porcelain throne for a couple of days straight, despite his efforts to avoid them! Hmmm!
What is the Nocebo Effect?
The nocebo effect is the absolute opposite of placebo effect! The placebo effect illustrates the power of positive beliefs in promoting healing, while the nocebo effect highlights how negative expectations can result in physical harm. When we tell ourselves negative things like we’re going to get sick, our bodies can actually respond to that! So basically, if you’re always thinking negatively and expecting bad things, your body might manifest physical symptoms. If we constantly expect the worst, our bodies will begin to respond accordingly.
How to Handle Fear and Panic
When you’re feeling anxious or afraid, having some tricks up your sleeve to bring yourself back to calm can be a lifesaver. Here are a few things that have worked for me and many others:
- Replace those negative thoughts with positive ones. Say things like, “I am strong” or “I can handle this.
- Humming: This one’s simple! Humming can soothe your nervous system by stimulating the vagus nerve.
- Take deep breaths into your belly to relax. In and out!
- Emotional stress release technique: See instructions on how to do ESR here!
If anxiety or fear is still a problem, homeopathy can be a game-changer. Aconite or Arsenicum 30c can help calm down those intense feelings of fear/fright (Aconite) and anxiety over health (Arsenicum). You can take these every 15-30 minutes for up to three doses (click here to learn a bit about how to find and give homeopathic remedies-fever ebook). There are also other remedies like Gelsemium (if you’re feeling anxious about something coming up) or Ignatia (if the anxiety is tied to grief or sadness).
Shifting Your Mindset for Better Health
While health isn’t just about what we think, the power of the mind can make a real difference. Shifting our focus to resilience, healing, and positive outcomes can change how we experience illness or stress. By combining this mindset with lifestyle changes and utilising tools such as homeopathy, one can achieve improved physical and mental well-being.
Wrapping It Up
Health is complex! Lifestyle, stress, and genetics all play a role in this ‘combination’. Still, we should never underestimate the mind’s capabilities. Whether positive or negative, our beliefs shape our perception. The nocebo effect highlights the risks of negative thinking, but positive affirmations and tools like homeopathic remedies can provide healing and support in difficult times. The key is to find the right balance and leverage all available resources to support our well-being.
