Consumers in search of health are ready to try anything for miracle cure. They often argue that "they have nothing to lose" so they can try it too. Unfortunately, there is something to lose. Consumers can get false hope. They may lose interest in mainstream medicine or other complementary approaches. Finally, pursuing unsatisfactory treatment also wastes their precious time.
Complementary psychological therapy is often questioned on issues such as false hope. Some fear that if cancer clients experience hope, they will deceive themselves and become depressed. They feel that they will not be disappointed as long as they expect garbage. It is a form of false helplessness. Such people like to call themselves realists, but are actually pessimists.
Many people misunderstand the true value of an optimistic, pessimistic or realistic outlook on life. Pessimists see the world as a dark place where there are only hardships and everything is hopeless. They reject the positive side of things. Optimists see the world as a happy playground where happiness is everywhere. They reject the negative side of life. Real people know that there are positive and negative aspects to everything in life. They totally agree on both sides.
"No one really knows how to be a pessimist."
- Norman Cousins -
- Pessimist: My glass is almost empty.
- Optimist: My glass is still full.
- Reality: I have half a glass.
When therapists work with the psychological issues described in this work, they are not giving false hope, but helping clients to be more realistic. There is real hope in this treatment.
Associations and medical groups often issue a kind of death guarantee (albeit less every day) along with a diagnosis of cancer. Fortunately, that is not the case. There is no guarantee that a person will die of cancer. On the other hand, there is no guarantee that cancer will be cured after intervention. The problem of false hope only exists when the therapist (medical or psychologist) assures that the client is recovering after the intervention. So false hopes exist only in the form of false guarantees.
The presence of hope in clients is often associated with improved health, and depression is often a precursor to poor outcomes. While providing hope is not a guarantee, it can help in the healing process.
Example:
There is no guarantee that people will be happy if they get married. They hope that will be the case. The pessimist can interpret this as a false hope.
However, expecting a wedding to be over in a few years is almost guaranteed.
Expecting someone to be happy is not a guarantee, but it certainly helps.
A sense of hope triggers the placebo effect. The potential side effects of placebo in the case of cancer are also undeniable.
“Everyone knows that a person dies of cancer, but I do not know if it applies to me. I thought it was (belief) nonsense. "
Quote from sudden relief patient
- Don van Baden - (1987 [1])
False hope is real, and can be seen as rejecting the present truth and focusing on completely unbelievable results. Such unrealistic expectations can lead to feelings of helplessness and guilt. The hope of healing is a real hope. Real or mature hope is to identify current feelings, ideas, relationships and opportunities for development. Focusing only on despair and self-pity is as unrealistic as looking only at a positive and bright future.
False hope
- I focus only on the positive.
- I can do whatever I want.
- I can control everything.
False disappointment
- I was in despair.
- I can not control anything.
- Everything scares me and illness and emotions control me.
Real hope
- Sometimes I'm awful, other times I feel more connected to life and to others than ever before.
- Some things are out of my control. However, there are many factors that I can control.
- I have now chosen to live as fully as possible. My quality of life may be related to my physical health, but no matter how long I live, I plan to do it to the best of my ability.
Hope initiates actions and induces prosperity. Without hope people will not take any step towards their health. Hope is a drive to motivate positive actions towards increasing self-control along with a supportive spirit.
Solano et al. (1993 [2]) studied the relationship between psychosocial conditions and the probability of developing symptoms. He concluded "The
There seems to be full recognition of the best approach to estimation
Decisive desire to do something about one's situation and about it. "This conclusion has been supported by many other authors.
"Trust in God and tie your camel to the tree."
- Muhammad -
[1] Baden, Vaughn, Don C. & Varies, D, Marco J. (1987) Autoimmune regression of cancer - a clinical, pathological and ****** - social study, Rotterdam: University of Erasmus...
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