The Placebo Effect
The placebo effect is a mental belief that something is helping you when in all reality it doesn’t. When put into a positive and optimistic mindset, the side effects of a symptom will tend to fade. In this situation your brain releases endorphins and dopamine, making you feel better when it doesn’t actually cure your ailment. The symptom themselves, like cancer, will not go away, but its immediate side effects, like nausea and headaches, won’t be as bad
(Harvard Staff).
The 5 Senses
The human body, when responding to different emotions, changes the body in small ways. While heart rate, breathing habits, and body temperature might fluctuate due to stress, contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t respond to their senses. After contemplating human studies, researchers have concluded that human emotions influence their tactical senses negatively. Emotions of fear reduce your 5 senses’ sharpness. Fear will influence pessimism and make it less likely for large-scale decisions to be made (Kelley and Schmeichel).
Gaslighting
Gaslighting is a term used to describe when an abuser manipulates the victim’s memory recollection and makes them question their sanity. An abuser for instance might change, withhold, or deny events to the point the victim believes them. The victim’s entire perception of events can be changed due to the emotional barrage made by a singular person. After extended periods of time, gaslighting can cripple a person’s emotional state. Victims of gaslighting have experienced severe anxiety, depression, and trauma. To avoid gaslighting, keep notes of traumatic or abusive events before encountering said abuser, and try to leave the relationship as quickly as possible (Nall).