Question: How does your mental state affect your recovery and medical state?

Jennifer Deane answered on 5 Jul 2021:

We know that stress can have a really big impact on our body and this in turn can slow down our recovery from illnesses. We also know that the stress of having an illness can potentially cause depression and anxiety and this can make it difficult to manage illnesses. So we may forget to take medication, or not look after ourselves in the best way needed – so not eating or sleeping well, maybe drinking more alcohol or smoking more which can make recovering from an illness harder.

I believe that there is a mental impact on us from any physical illness or injury. It may not be severe but I don’t think we can separate the two. If you have a bad cold, as well as feeling physically ill it can also make you feel a bit down in the dumps or just not yourself for a few days. If you break your leg you may worry about how this could impact your future, especially if you are into a sport and not being able to do what you are used to can make you feel sad or low for a little while. In some people these feelings last longer.

There has been less research on if a positive mental state can help recovery – although you will hear lots of people talking about this, especially on social media. There is some evidence that a positive attitude helps protect you a little from feeling depressed and anxious which may help you cope with the treatment you are going through – especially in cancer. However there is no evidence that a positive attitude can cure cancer, or any condition really.