The Action That Can Extend Patients' Lives By Up to 10 Years

For the previous article: When the accident's perpetrator is the victim's surgeon

Another point where we frequently see the impact of the emotional dimension on physical condition: studies tracking people who lived far beyond their medical prognosis found that many possessed faith and a purpose for living. Undoubtedly, faith and a moral purpose justifying the struggle for life significantly improve a patient's emotional state, which in turn, as we witness, has a notable effect on their physical condition.

It has also been proven that when medical staff consult with patients, it leads to a significant improvement in their quality of life, even if the consultations are not substantial – such as asking, "What would you like to drink?", "When would it be convenient to perform the treatment?", "Which newspaper would you like to read?", and so on.

The very fact that a patient is given the opportunity to make decisions about their life gives them a sense of control, and this feeling leads to a sense of meaning. The sense of meaning affects the patient's mental resilience, and mental resilience directly improves their physical condition.

Of course, there is the flip side: when the staff avoids considering patients' desires, it increases the sense of helplessness every patient experiences and leads to depression, a loss of meaning, and consequently, a poorer prognosis.

For this reason, current studies clearly show that individuals with severe illnesses who receive professional mental support enjoy a recovery rate higher by about twenty percent and significantly greater life expectancy!

Of course, the sense of meaning can be provided to the patient not necessarily through daily technical consultations but perhaps even primarily by assisting them in finding meaningful content in their lives.

For instance, it is important that the patient understands what is happening with them, takes an active part in medical decisions regarding them; it is similarly crucial that they continue to maintain some form of active routine as much as possible or perform a value-based activity that gives their life meaning beyond the survival struggle of life itself. Concurrently, they can also try to derive life insights from their current situation and consider what would make them proud of themselves – despite their limited abilities.

All these ideas aim towards the same objective: to provide meaningfulness to the patient's life in order to enhance their mental resilience, and through this – increase their chances of recovery.

Focus on the Present

When a patient finds themselves facing a negative prognosis, it is advised to minimize as much as possible the preoccupation and thoughts about the future and to focus on positive thoughts about the present. The intention is not to ignore the future, as that is burying one's head in the sand... Concern for the future has a positive dimension, as it allows us to wisely plan our steps. Nevertheless, when worry about the future takes over the patient and becomes central in their thoughts – it is not beneficial, rather the opposite.

For the same reason, it is also important to avoid feeling guilty as much as possible. People who suffer from severe illnesses often tend to blame their condition on actions they have done in the past: maybe they hurt someone, possibly harmed someone, or perhaps performed other negative acts...

However, once again: self-examination and repentance are certainly worthy and correct values, especially in relation to someone who can already see the day when they will have to account for their actions. But when a person tortures themselves too much and is unwilling to forgive themselves for past mistakes – they are in a situation that consumes energy, drains strength, and may harm their chances of recovery.

Visiting the Sick

Here is the place to address several issues regarding visiting the sick who suffer from serious illnesses: often, particularly in this period when the patient needs as much social and family support as possible – they sometimes feel discomfort during social or family gatherings. Sometimes, they do not want to be seen publicly in their weakness; sometimes – they do not want to be remembered as 'sick' and prefer to maintain the image of being healthy and energetic, etc.

Is this a reason to give up on the precious mitzvah of visiting the sick, which can greatly help the patient in their condition? Obviously not! Well, to overcome the patient's difficulty – the mitzvah can be fulfilled through the telephone! Research conducted on the subject has proven that even patients who preferred to avoid face-to-face meetings with people – were able to conduct longer and more emotionally open conversations over the phone.

In terms of emotional value, a phone call with the patient has almost the same value as a visit: it allows them to interact with their surroundings, provides a support network, and simultaneously preserves their dignity and respects their desire.

Of course, a physical visit has greater value, partly because it evokes more compassion from the visitor, causing them to pray for the patient from the depths of their heart... Besides, physical kindness, by visiting in person – has greater value... Still, if we respect the patient's wishes – it will usually be the right thing for them, although each case must be examined on its own merits.

Not the Time to Prove...

But one thing is clear without a shadow of a doubt: when the attribute of justice strikes someone, unfortunately, it is the least appropriate time to remind them of their sins and arouse them to return to repentance... Not only is it ineffective, but it can even worsen the patient's condition.

Indeed, we find that when Job the righteous was afflicted with suffering – his friends came to him and reproved him for his deeds, to bring him to correct what needed correction and be saved. However, our sages teach (Bava Metzia 58) that this is not the right and appropriate way for us! When a person visits a patient or meets someone who suffers misfortune – they must be attentive to their distress, let them express their pain, and not take advantage of the opportunity to reproach them.

Even if we truly believe that this is the case, and even if we are convinced that the person is punished for actions done in the past – now is not the appropriate time to say it. Casting blame at this point in time is "verbal oppression", and it constitutes a real prohibition.

When entering to visit a patient, it's important that we bring with us a supply of cheerful countenance and joy, and come filled with optimism to influence the patient themselves. When the visitor is at ease and happy – they convey hope to the patient, and hope in itself – can significantly increase the patient's chances of recovery.

Here we note that it has been proven that even false hope – can aid the patient's healing process and improve their chances of survival! It enhances their sense of personal resilience, raises cortisol levels in their body, and helps them cope better with the illness. In fact, some research claims that strengthening the patient's mental resilience can extend their life by up to ten years!

The Challenge of Visiting the Sick

Indeed, this is the place to note that it is not always easy to bring optimism into the room of a patient suffering from a serious illness. In many cases, the patient themselves exudes a sense of detachment, stemming from the emotional difficulty they are experiencing, and this fact causes the environment to maintain distance, as if to respect their desire.

However, it is essential to know that in truth, when the patient feels isolated from the environment – their difficulty intensifies sevenfold. Besides the difficulty stemming from the illness itself, they also experience a sense of abandonment and loneliness, which worsens their mental state, and this is especially true for people who were particularly socially active before they fell ill.

This issue is often reflected in relation to medical teams as well. Occasionally, the sense of detachment the patient conveys causes them to refrain from approaching and inquiring about their well-being, although research clearly demonstrates that even minimal interest of a minute, once or twice a day – can significantly reduce anxiety levels in patients and aid the healing process.

Moreover, it has been shown that patients who were hospitalized in rooms with a window facing outwards, to the sky or scenery – demonstrated more significant improvement in their condition compared to other patients who were hospitalized in windowless rooms. The sense of loneliness for a person hospitalized in a closed room, without any connection to the outside world – has a considerable impact on their condition, while the mere presence of a window in the room – provides a sense of connection to the world beyond the hospital walls.

For this reason, when visiting a patient, it is recommended to suggest a short walk in the fresh air... The room itself, where the patient is confined – gives them a sense of isolation, intensifying many negative feelings that are already present in the patient's heart. A few minutes of walking in the fresh air, outside the room – can, therefore, be very significant for improving their mental state and, consequently, improving their physical condition.