There are many scientists who find it very hard to believe that emotions can have an effect on immunity and body functioning in general. The research that is happening now, though, is pointing very strongly toward a solid relationship between body and mind. The feelings and attitudes of a person are showing to have a very definite impact on his/her health. The study in this field is called psychoneuroimmunology (PNI).

Positive attitudes and emotions can help increase your health.

Extensive research into feelings and attitudes of a person is suggesting that negative or pessimistic attitudes about oneself and the world in general can have a negative impact on the body. Negative and critical feelings can set off a chain reaction in the body which affects the complex network of communication between the immune, endocrine and nervous systems. Positive or optimistic attitudes result in increasing the flow of communication. This could result in boosting the immune system (i.e. health).

In an effort to prove this, scientists are looking at the molecules in the body: what happens on a molecular level in the body when one feels positive versus when one feels negative? A leading molecular biologist in this research is Candace Pert. She has written a book, "Molecules of Emotion", which deals with this subject directly. Follow this link to her theory on emotions and molecules. An example of a change that occurs due to emotions is that when you are feeling positive and blissful, there is a higher level of endorphins in the blood and immune systems. Endorphins are hormones that are related to health and wellbeing.