[hartbroken]

I admit, I'm negative right now. I've had schizoaffective for 21 years, and have been scared and terrified for much of that time, and from the side effects of the meds. I got diabetes and now have fatty liver and my eyes are questionable. And I have friends who don't understand the illness. I have very few people to talk to about the stuff going on. I have a spiritual life that is very rocky I think because of the disease playing games with my head.

So I'm looking for good reading material on how to change deep seated negativity into a hopeful attitude.

Any suggestions?

[Rapunzel]

Nobody else can change you, but you can change yourself. There is a lot of good stuff from Positive Psychology about learned optimism and how cultivating happiness and positivity is something that people do have to work at, and how to do that.

:: Authentic Happiness :: Using the new Positive Psychology
Martin Seligman's website

http://enjoylifebook.com/
An easy to read book by Lynn Johnson, who also has a newsletter you can subscribe to about cultivating a more hopeful attitude (info for subscribing on his website). I have been to one of Dr. Johnson's workshops, talked to him personally, and I use some of his materials with my clients. He is a real person who has even written back to me when I responded to his newsletter emails.

[elr0897]

Just try to stay positive. I understand that's hard to do in a tough situation but if you can find the strength to stay positive you can do anything. It seems like you need more people to talk to about this situation. I recommend you to start going to therapy if you are not already going. You can't let this situation control you!

[Perna]

I read a lot of books/novels about people with difficulties and how they overcome them and that helps me think I can overcome my difficulties or that something good can happen, etc. If I can't be around people who are positive, the next best thing for me is to read about it or watch it on TV/movies, etc.

[greentires4me]

taking one day at at time seeing that silver lining in the clouds when the clouds look all grey and dark that very chance that the sun could come out and be pleasant just maybe for awhile not a whole chunk of time but a small chunk of time. Taking breaks when you need to take breaks...taking bathes and enjoying the bubbles as you put them on your face to make a beard, then laughing at yourself thinking the bubbles couldn't be a beard but it feels cool anyway. This is all things I do to stay in the positive just a little at a time

[~Christina]

I have always been a negative person ... as in " I always assume the worst .. and we it didn't happen I was pleasantly please and shocked. I honestly didn't realize just how negative I was until I starting Therapy .. Now I'm more like 95 % positive .. I still slip up at times , but , life is better now.

[avlady]

You could listen to positive music, rock and roll of anytype helps me and brings back good memories of happy times in my life.

[mitingas]

Of course it is possible, from very negative person I become very positive. Anxiety and depression were the causes of my negativity. Buddhist say that all the people are positive and happy by default, but their egoistic minds makes them full of negative emotions and thoughts. I think this is true.

The same question "Is it possible for a fat person to become healthy?" the same answer. Yes! It is possible. There are things the fat person has to do to get there, but the possibility remains!

When we want to be positive then only we can be positive. It is all within us. I have experienced it.

[spondiferous]

I think it helps to find out what makes you feel good in life and go after it. Learn what your limitations are (if you don't already know) and what you are capable of, and then go after it. Whether it's researching things you're interested in, reading books, going to school, socializing with people who have the same interests and values, and who are positive AND understanding/compassionate, there are lots of ways to build positivity in your life. These are the things I have done for me, and I've found they work for me. I've also found, though, that no matter how much awesomeness I put into my life, life is still life and it still sucks sometimes.

[Muser]

I have found this book helpful

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy - David D. Burns - Google Books

[a bland]

i have a problem with negativity too. sometimes its just hard to get to the other side where the grass is greener. but what helps my is setting positive goals for myself and give it all u got. my goals r my reason for living and ive learned if i dont have any goals then my mind seems to wonder around all the negativity in my life. start out with small easy goals to build urself up. then make them a little harder as u go. that always helps me. i dont know if its more of a distraction but it cant hurt.

[Cocosurviving]

I encourage you to consider therapy. A good therapist will help you and together will work out a book.

[yellowted]

the only person who can change you is you, instead of simply thinking the worst, try following that thought with ...if that happens what will i do ....and work out a solution so the positive can still be possible e.g you need to go to the supermarket to get something for supper, the worst that can happen is you don't get to there because the bus doesn't turn up, ok it didn't turn out as planned, so what can you do to make the positive happen? you could wait for the next bus, walk or cycle to the supermarket, you could go to the corner shop and get something from there and try again tomorrow, or you could go home and invent a new dish from things you have in, so whichever you chose to do you still achieved getting supper!
I always have to plan for the unseen, very often i plan to do something and have to rearrange my plans because my health gets on the way, but i am always ready with a so what now!
there's always a way but no one way is ever the only right way.