The Help of Positive Psychology in Coping with Cancer

I will be discussing the support for Positive Psychology and its influence on coping with cancer. As discussed in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine, which shows a positive viewpoint of cancer by the patient, it is revealed that coping strategies were utilized to aid in the process of getting through life one step at a time, revealing the effects of lower mortality and improved overall health status. Thus, it can be said that dispositional optimism is to be consistent with quick patient recovery, inner security, agitation and melancholy. Moreover, the cancer patients that displayed an optimistic disposition were said to have had experienced more beneficial end results when compared with those of a negative frame of mind. 

Positive psychology is more than just about being optimistic in a negative situation, it also explores the effects of the strengths that aid in helping people thrive in their natural environment. Evidence for this claim is provided in the story by Aspinwall and Tedeschi and the many studies that were carried out within. The studies that were carried out recommend that optimism can be a major method of forecasting one's mental and physical welfare. They also show that thinking positively has great power in ways that have the ability to affect the mind, body and soul. Indeed, the method of positive psychology cannot provide a cure for cancer or a technique of remedy, however it can definitely be operated as an implement for people identified to have cancer. Having a positive mindset may be a method of viewing a negative state with a positive outlook and can provide hope for many people. Therefore, it can be said that dispositional optimism can make the experience or journey of cancer uncomplicated to deal with.

Positive psychology’s main idea constitutes of having positive perspectives and emotions, while also having the ability to accompany psychotherapy. A lot of people who have cancer believe that they have to have the mindset of overcoming it in a fight, making them feel that they have the power to control its effects. Positive psychology's main idea within the topic of cancer analysis circulates around 'fighting spirit,' and its importance in fighting cancer. As it is common for cancer patients to be told to think positive of each situation they are faced with, it is not that easy to achieve this mindset, especially by the people who do not know how it actually feels like to go through with the coping of cancer. Assuming that positive thinking can overcome or help with negative experiences is an understatement because there is no evidence that this can be done without being problematic in some ways. The approach of positive psychology is not intended to work for every individual, indicating that a focus on only positive thinking is erroneous, demonstrating that it has a lack of meaning for people who have had traumatic experiences that are not easy to fall back from.

In conclusion, Positive psychological thoughts and emotions can have a great influence on an individual’s overall health status. Indeed, they both correlate with each other but assuming that one has the ability to cause the other is wrong because correlation does not cause causation. Cancer patients being told to keep a positive outlook on life is quite impractical due to the fact that it is not an easy thing to do. The feelings that come along with cancer, that are depression, guilt and fear, are normal phases of learning to cope with the changes involved with the illness. The possible situation of not being able to stick to a positive mindset is common, however this is problematic as this has the ability to only add on to a patient’s emotional stress of what they are going through. Positive psychology has the ability to provide benefits for a patient. Thus, I believe that it can be useful as an additional implement to medicinal treatments after looking at the positive effects of it.