Is it even true that someone who is determined to overcome an illness has more chance than someone who is passive, or even indifferent? If so how? Isn’t it the immune system and/or the medications and drugs that are doing the work?
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Lots of people have touched on the placebo effect. The other key part is that having a negative outlook causes the release of stress hormones like cortisol which reduce immune function. As others have said, the reverse is true if positive mindset – lower stress hormones PLUS extra pain relievers and other helpful hormones.
It’s important to note that positive attitude is not a replacement for medical treatment, just an extra bit that helps you heal a bit faster and feel less awful while you’re unwell. More importantly, not having a negative attitude prevents the physiological damage caused by stress. If you can’t be positive, finding a way to be neutral is still going to be better for your immune system than being negative.
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