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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Can positivity help you shift a cold quicker?

49 replies

C1239 · 01/04/2023 20:48

I know it sounds stupid but do you think if you are generally a positive person or think I’m not going to come down with that cold the rest of the family have it can help shift it quicker or not catch it in the first place?!

OP posts:
Littlecamellia · 01/04/2023 20:52

No.

ScarlettDarling · 01/04/2023 20:58

No I don’t think it can stop you getting a cold but I do think that having a positive attitude generally makes you feel better. If my dh gets a cold it doesn’t stop him doing anything, he never moans and just gets on with it. It rarely bothers him for more than a couple of days. When I get a cold my health anxiety makes me hyper aware of every ache and pain. I worry that I’m getting flu/COVID etc and feel grotty and tired for ages. I’m a total pain and my colds seem to linger forever!

TomatoSandwiches · 01/04/2023 21:00

Why don't you try it and see how it goes.

DanceMonster · 01/04/2023 21:02

Positive thoughts absolutely cannot affect the trajectory of a virus.

Switchwitch · 01/04/2023 21:03

I think the dressing gown of doom prolongs it so perhaps you can make colds shorter with a poncho of positivity

TellHimDirectlyInDetail · 01/04/2023 21:05

No

TomatoFrog · 01/04/2023 21:07

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

WeWereInParis · 01/04/2023 21:08

No, but I guess a positive attitude about it may make the symptoms feel less severe.

PaperwhiteTheGhost · 01/04/2023 21:10

If by "positivity" you mean "time and a well functioning immune system" then yes.

TyneTeas · 01/04/2023 21:13

It won't change the actual being ill, but it may impact on the threshold at which you function.

I tend to keep going unless I feel too ill to, whereas DH (in my opinion anyway) tends more to be more likely to stop doing things because he doesn't feel 100 percent

TheNoodlesIncident · 01/04/2023 21:19

No. Having a good rest works for me - I always used to take the first day of a cold off from work, and just stayed in bed. Knocked about three days off the duration of the illness and I felt much better for it than when I just had to keep going. Plus less viral load for colleagues. It would obviously be better to be in less with a cold but I did feel I couldn't justify more days of sickness for "just a cold".

I had tons of colds as a child and had to go in to school throughout, no matter how grotty I felt. And I did feel terrible and suffered a lot, so thanks for that mum.

Loveatortie · 01/04/2023 21:21

No

DuckonaBike · 01/04/2023 21:23

I have definitely heard that’s there’s evidence of a positive mindset leading to a stronger immune system. So unfortunately whenever I have a cold I worry that my anxious and pessimistic nature will impair my immune system and make it last longer. This makes me feel more anxious and pessimistic.

Not sure if this is helpful actually.

Hibye23289 · 01/04/2023 21:28

Well there have been times when my exh was ill or the kids and I tell myself I really cannot get ill, I refuse to get ill 😂 Mum's can't be ill they don't have time. As soon as I feel a niggle of poorlyness I take tablets to try and stop it taking over

WarmButteryCrumpets · 01/04/2023 21:56

It is an interesting question, people dismiss it as woo, but they're fine with a placebo healing someone! So obviously our thoughts do affect our physical bodies

PaperwhiteTheGhost · 01/04/2023 23:33

WarmButteryCrumpets · 01/04/2023 21:56

It is an interesting question, people dismiss it as woo, but they're fine with a placebo healing someone! So obviously our thoughts do affect our physical bodies

The placebo effect only works up to a certain point though. Mostly it can provide pain relief and the perception that symptoms are less severe. It's doesn't actually physically cure anything.

chronictonic · 01/04/2023 23:43

No. But I think having a negative attitude bor anxious attitude can prolong it.

As PPs have said.

Twinedpeaks · 02/04/2023 09:14

DuckonaBike · 01/04/2023 21:23

I have definitely heard that’s there’s evidence of a positive mindset leading to a stronger immune system. So unfortunately whenever I have a cold I worry that my anxious and pessimistic nature will impair my immune system and make it last longer. This makes me feel more anxious and pessimistic.

Not sure if this is helpful actually.

What evidence?

DuckonaBike · 02/04/2023 17:20

Twinedpeaks · 02/04/2023 09:14

What evidence?

Show quote history

Sorry @Twinedpeaks I can’t remember the details! It was one of those academic studies that gets a brief write up in the mainstream press but it was a few years ago. I just remember thinking it wasn’t great for me as a pessimist! Maybe I should try harder.

saoirse31 · 02/04/2023 17:41

Positive attitude makes no difference to the trajectory of the virus or cold, but how good or bad you feel makes a massive difference to how it feels to you, so no it makes no difference to catching it but yes it makes big difference to how you feel while you have it.

SisterAgatha · 02/04/2023 17:43

I find a run shifts it. Definitely better than any other home remedy I’ve tried.

Nimbostratus100 · 02/04/2023 17:45

DuckonaBike · 01/04/2023 21:23

I have definitely heard that’s there’s evidence of a positive mindset leading to a stronger immune system. So unfortunately whenever I have a cold I worry that my anxious and pessimistic nature will impair my immune system and make it last longer. This makes me feel more anxious and pessimistic.

Not sure if this is helpful actually.

no, it is the opposite, a positive mindset leads to worse outcomes, medically, in general

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 02/04/2023 17:56

Well, a virus is a virus and will just "do it's thing" but I do think moping around in a dressing gown for days on end can make you feel even worse.

Unless I'm bedbound, I always make sure I get up and shower when I'm unwell, and do something productive. I feel better sitting up and watching TV than I do when I'm festering in bed.

So I do think there's something in it - in that positivity can help your general mood/attitude which in turn can make you feel a bit better.

Preparedforjobnottolast · 02/04/2023 18:49

I was told to keep positive at my outpatients appointment as if it would solve everything (check up after spinal surgery) so yeah I think you have merit.

Teaandcaaaaake · 02/04/2023 18:57

C1239 · 01/04/2023 20:48

I know it sounds stupid but do you think if you are generally a positive person or think I’m not going to come down with that cold the rest of the family have it can help shift it quicker or not catch it in the first place?!

Do you believe you can "beat cancer" by positive thinking too OP?