Although mind and body are often considered independent entities, mental and physical health are in fact inextricably linked. While positive thinking has been shown in studies to enhance mental health, reduce stress, and even contribute to improved cardiovascular health, chronic stress disrupts the body’s hormone balance, depletes the brain chemicals necessary for happiness, and harms the immune system. Poorly controlled emotions or suppressed anger is linked to a variety of health problems, including hypertension (high blood pressure), cardiovascular illness, digestive difficulties, and infections.
Negative thinking is characterized by a predisposition to think negatively about oneself and one’s surroundings. While everyone has negative thoughts from time to time, negative thinking that significantly influences how you think about yourself and the world around, and even interferes with work/study and daily functioning, impacts the brain and neurological system, which in turn affects the entire body. This recurring tendency causes emotional distress as well as the gradual internalization of negative emotional patterns.
Negative emotions and ideas may quickly become a habit. If you continue to reward bitter, pessimistic, jealous, or angry reactions to everyday life, your brain will begin to respond in the same manner to everything. These negative reinforcement patterns have been found to have an impact on everything from hormone health to heart health, gastrointestinal health, numerous illnesses, and disease recovery.
Additionally, if you are experiencing unpleasant emotions, you will resort to destructive coping mechanisms like resorting to addictions like smoking, alcohol, promiscuous sex, etc. and that will make it more difficult to pull yourself back.