Quote:
In many cases, health follows will: a good outlook and positive emotions can hold physical pain at bay, or at least lessen it. Frodo did not have the benefit of that himself.
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Perhaps he had it, at least to some degree, once he had actually made the decision to sail. That was a positive decision to do something about his suffering, to take the best path open to him. Tolkien said that it was after his last grievous illness - in March, I think? - that his mind was made up. Also, he left before the October illness could recur. That is even spoken in an earlier draft: "I'm going now, before the wound returns."
Tolkien does speak of some positivity - "if Sam thought he was lucky, Frodo knew that he was more lucky himself ... he took to a quiet life, writing a good [or was it great?] deal, and going through his notes." I think he used the near-completion of the Red Book as a focus. Sam did remark "Well, you've kept at it, I must say."
There was also, reputedly, much coming and going between Crickhollow and Bag End. I always took that to mean that Frodo visited Crickhollow as well as Merry and Pippin coming to Bag End, but I might be wrong.