Better well being
Allergy sufferers are often told to “look on the bright side” when their symptoms are especially bad. But as an allergy sufferer, you may have trouble finding the “silver lining” when you are miserable.
However, those with a chronic health problem, such as allergies, may fare better in the long run if they frame events, such as an illness, in positive ways. The result may be better mental health which may help strengthen your immune system.
Studies have shown that people who frame events in their lives in positive ways have better mental health, and those who frame events in negative ways have poorer mental well being.
In one study, researchers asked participants in their mid-to-late 50s to tell their life stories, which were recorded. Each person’s physical and mental health was assessed in the beginning and annually for four years. They found four major themes appeared in people’s stories.
•Agency—--Did the subjects feel able to influence and respond to events in life, or did they feel they had no control?
•Communion---Were the people connected or disconnected to others?
•Redemption---Did the people put a positive spin on a negative experience?
•Contamination---Did they tell stories of good things turning bad?
The individuals who were more connected to others, felt more able to influence events, and found positive in negative things had better mental health.
The same results occurred in another study where the participants had received a diagnosis of a major illness, such as diabetes, cancer or heart disease. The people whose personal narratives contained more agency, communion, redemption and less contamination had better mental health, even with a life-threatening illness.
Here’s how to reframe a negative event, whether its allergies, other illness or life experience.
•Start with acceptance. “Yes, I have allergies. What can I do to make it better?”
•Ask: Could this be worse? Obviously, there are much worse things in life than allergies.
•Remember negative events can lead to changes that push you into changing bad habits, such stopping smoking, better eating or getting exercise.
However, those with a chronic health problem, such as allergies, may fare better in the long run if they frame events, such as an illness, in positive ways. The result may be better mental health which may help strengthen your immune system.
Studies have shown that people who frame events in their lives in positive ways have better mental health, and those who frame events in negative ways have poorer mental well being.
In one study, researchers asked participants in their mid-to-late 50s to tell their life stories, which were recorded. Each person’s physical and mental health was assessed in the beginning and annually for four years. They found four major themes appeared in people’s stories.
•Agency—--Did the subjects feel able to influence and respond to events in life, or did they feel they had no control?
•Communion---Were the people connected or disconnected to others?
•Redemption---Did the people put a positive spin on a negative experience?
•Contamination---Did they tell stories of good things turning bad?
The individuals who were more connected to others, felt more able to influence events, and found positive in negative things had better mental health.
The same results occurred in another study where the participants had received a diagnosis of a major illness, such as diabetes, cancer or heart disease. The people whose personal narratives contained more agency, communion, redemption and less contamination had better mental health, even with a life-threatening illness.
Here’s how to reframe a negative event, whether its allergies, other illness or life experience.
•Start with acceptance. “Yes, I have allergies. What can I do to make it better?”
•Ask: Could this be worse? Obviously, there are much worse things in life than allergies.
•Remember negative events can lead to changes that push you into changing bad habits, such stopping smoking, better eating or getting exercise.
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