by Kerry Hosking

Created on: January 08, 2009

Health insurance policies are expensive, so is there a way to prevent or treat pain yourself? Once diagnosed, some of the treatment may be under your control, if you have the right attitude. Medications may be necessary however, depending what the medical condition is, and one should not discard prescription medicine against doctor's advice.

There have been numerous studies conducted on optimism and pessimism, and the psychological effects they have on physical health. Scientists are always curious whether either mindset can be a used as a predictor or treatment for illnesses,or to prevent illness from developing. Some studies have shown that optimism has a positive effect on issues such as a shortened post surgical recovery time, and positive results have been reported by optimistic college students who claim they suffer from less stress during exam periods. Despite these glowing reports of better physical and psychological health, some studies show that optimism and pessimism are not necessarily oppositional traits; in fact one of them has a far greater correlation to physical health than the other.

In a controlled study of 400 older communal residents who suffered from knee pain, it was determined that the pessimism rather than optimism had a far stronger relationship with physical functioning (Brenes, Rapp, Rejeski, & Miller, 2002). The study also "strengthens the argument that optimism and pessimism are not simply polar opposites of the same trait, but distinct, orthogonal dimensions as suggested by some" (Mroczek et al., 1993; Scheier et al., 1994, p. 1). Note; the study sample was random, although it did take into acount that medications and pre-existing ailments were present in some subjects.

So what is it that makes pessimistic people behave in a manner which is conducive to feeling, or even producing pain? Perhaps one who is pessimistic is more likely to tolerate physical pain, and they hold the attitude that nothing can be done to heal them. On the other hand, it would make sense that one who is optimistic would tolerate the pain, as well as seeking medical attention. If such a study permits one to readily predict a physical performance by someone who is pessimistic, there must be a way to modify behaviors or perceptions so that a more desirable outcome can be achieved. Does this mean we can teach someone to become optimistic? Not necessarily, however, "helping individuals to identify and modify erroneous beliefs and expectations may improve their

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