The Power of Positivity

“I am thankful for my mental health condition.” 

These aren’t words you hear uttered often, or at all, from the over 50 million individuals living with a mental illness in the United States (National Institute of Mental Health). So, why then, did Kimberly Zapata recount her depression diagnosis in this way? In her article, titled “The Upside to Living with Mental Illness,” she explains that she attributes her ability to “appreciate the little things more” to her illness. She states that because of her illness (depression), she knows her “value.” She realizes her worth, recognizes her power and strength, and she says she has made friends because of her illness, not in spite of it.

So, is there any benefit in viewing your mental health condition, specifically depression, in this way? 

Studies point to yes!

According to research, people who are more optimistic are less likely to develop depressive symptoms (Giltay et al. 2006), and they recover from depression more quickly (Kronstrom et al, 2011). Studies have been conducted to examine the effect that optimism has on many different populations. Protective effects of optimism have been studied and reported in adolescents, students, middle-aged women, women with breast cancer, and patients with heart disease and metastatic cancer. (Kronstrom et al, 2011). The lifespan for men and women is significantly longer for individuals practicing optimism (Lee et al, 2019). Optimistic thinking is typically a core tenet of CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) and has been shown to improve coping response to stress, increase the chances of practicing a healthy lifestyle, and subsequently improve overall quality of life (Conversano et al, 2010).

Optimism & Opportunity