The Many Factors that Influence Our Healing

Modern medicine focuses on treatments, technology, and clinical care to help people heal, but it’s not the whole picture. Humans have known for generations that supporting both the mind and body is vital to healing from illness. But can small acts of kindness actually help someone heal?

As it turns out, more and more research shows that our emotional and mental state play an integral role in how our immune system responds when we’re sick. Supporting those in the hospital when they need it most through small acts of kindness, like a note or flowers, can boost morale and increase positive emotions, which, in turn, can stimulate the immune system response to help patients in their recovery.

The Problem: Isolation in Times of Illness

Being in the hospital can be a lonely and stressful experience. Many patients do not receive visitors during their stay, leading to higher rates of anxiety and depression. Emotional distress can slow recovery and weaken resilience.  That’s why being there for loved ones is so important in their recovery, but due to the busyness of life, many feel they aren’t able to do enough.

Small Acts Make Big Impacts

It may actually be the small acts that have the most impact. Grand gestures may overwhelm those who are trying to heal. A note of encouragement, a bouquet, even a short visit from a stranger can do a lot to lift a patient’s spirits. Flowers bring beauty, fragrance, and a reminder that someone cares. Human connection from a stranger shows they are not alone. 

Stress Worsens Health Outcomes

Research shows that emotional factors play a huge role in the top 6 causes of death in the US: cancer, coronary heart disease, accidental injuries, respiratory disorders, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide. These statistics show us that our emotional health affects our physical health more than we realize.

In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 75% of all doctor visits are related to stress. That is a whopping number of doctor visits! Thankfully, there are fields of science dedicated to studying these effects. Psychoneuroimmunology, the study of the interaction between emotions and the immune system, has discovered that psychological stress can decrease the immune system’s response and increase inflammation in the body. In other words, emotional stress can actually make you sick! 

Positive Emotions Can Heal

The good news is we can use positive emotions to improve our health outcomes. Research from The Heart Math Institute shows that when we experience positive or renewing emotions such as love, gratitude, or appreciation, we release a hormone called DHEA, which can significantly activate immune function.  In contrast, negative emotions such as sadness, anger, or frustration release the stress hormone cortisol, which inversely inhibits the immune response.

“Every emotion you experience has an effect on your body and on your resilience, whether or not you are aware of it. Every emotion immediately causes changes in your body, affects your ability to build and sustain your energy, and either renews or depletes your resilience.” -Heart Math Institute

Small acts of kindness, like bringing flowers to a patient in the hospital, can bring immediate and lasting positive emotions of love and gratitude, enhancing the immune system response, helping the body heal. Understanding the roles stress and positive emotions play in our physical health can empower us to live more balanced lives instead of stress-filled ones.  Practicing feeling positive emotions such as gratitude, love, and appreciation can boost our immunity. This knowledge encourages us to continue acts of kindness for others, no matter how small.

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Measuring Random Acts of Flower’s Impact

 Random Acts of Flowers Indianapolis (RAFI) is a non-profit organization that improves the emotional health and well-being of individuals in healthcare facilities by delivering recycled flowers, encouragement, and personal moments of kindness. RAF Indy has delivered 159,864 flowers to date! Check out what some of these patients had to say when they received their flowers:

“I have never seen such a caring event as this. I was a patient as a traumatic injury person, and I cannot express the joy of seeing these flowers delivered to my bedside to lift my doom and gloom. Thank you so much!”  – Flower Recipient

“These flowers put a smile on my face on a day when smiles were few and far between. Thanks so much to everyone involved. It was quite touching.” -Flower Recipient

If you’ve received flowers from RAFI, we would love to hear from you! Please fill out the survey at the link below. You will help us get a better understanding of the impact our flowers bring.

Impact Survey

Special thanks to Lauren Helder, our guest blogger this month!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

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Volume 93,2021,Pages 1-3,ISSN 0889-1591,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.12.023. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889159120324764)