The Little Blue Book

health outcomes So, having a positive outlook, an ability to see positives when challenged by stressful life events, is a psychological buffer against harmful mental health effects. But, perhaps not surprisingly, positive emotions (good humour, gratitude, compassion, love) also have a measurable beneficial effect on physical health; on heart rate, on vascular resistance and blood pressure (compared to negative emotions such as anger, fear and sadness). 1 Positive thinking ‘muscles up’ emotional resilience, which gives us that little extra in reserve when faced with stressful situations. Most, or certainly many of us, would have experienced occasional intense stress reactions at some time in our lives – maybe before exams or a job interview, or when under financial pressure or extreme work pressure. We may have even experienced an ‘autonomic’ reaction (autonomic arousal) – hyperventilation, palpitations, nausea etc. – that can occur as an intensely-felt anxiety or stress response. 2 For most of us, this will pass; we can bring our emotions under control and deal with the way forward. But for some people, intense stress reactions can stay with them. Physical or emotional trauma, in particular, can produce acute and persistent negative stress responses that can elevate risk of hypertension and associated cardiovascular disease and stroke. 1 Psychological stress can also trigger the release of inflammatory neuropeptides which act on immune cells and blood vessels, and increase risk of autoimmune skin diseases such as psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and alopecia (hair loss). 3 Similarly, psychological stress is strongly linked to the development of mood-affective disorders such as anxiety and depression, as well as substance disorders (heavy drinking, drug use) and chronic gambling and other damaging diversionary disorders (in self-medicating to dull the pain of the emotional distress and negative feelings they carry). So, in dealing with the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic - the uncertainties we are facing now, and the unknown ones we will inevitably face in coming months - there are a whole lot of upsides to cultivating positive thinking and positive emotional responses. But not all negative thinking is ‘bad’. Survival: The upside of negative thinking We use both negative and positive thoughts to inform and guide our actions throughout the day. These ‘upside’ and ‘downside’ thoughts helps us arrive at rational decisions. If you thought “it might rain today, I’d better get an umbrella”, the consideration of the risk of rain is a negative thought. It’s possibly one that comes from previously having been caught in the rain, soaked to the bone, and left cold, wet and uncomfortable. 16 Towards Resilience - The Power of Positivity