Mood Challenges Increase Likelihood Of Post-COVID Symptoms
Reference Article Linked Here.
Stress, depression, and anxiety have been shown to increase susceptibility to viral syndromes. Now we can add loneliness and isolation to that list.
This study surveyed the participants who had not been diagnosed with COVID at an initial time and at one year. Of those people who reported having contracted COVID within that year, the researchers found that individuals who had reported increased stress, isolation, loneliness, anxiety, or depression had a greater likelihood of having COVID symptoms after the infection lasting at least one month. These post-COVID symptoms got in the way of their living.
I can remember that the most significant illnesses in my life occurred within a couple of weeks of significantly disturbing life events that induced severe stress for me. The stress broke open a pathway for infection that my otherwise very healthy immune system had warded off. Stress reactions and consequences are very real. The foundation for a strong future health is rooted firmly in stress resilience. And it takes work.
Stress, anxiety, loneliness, depression and isolation can all impair the balance between our relaxation system (parasympathetic) and our activation system (sympathetic). Too much continual activation reduces immune system function, drives the individual toward a more significant depression, and induces inflammation and insulin/sugar dysregulation. All of these can individually and collectively cause further immune system disfunction.
If you've tried usual methods of reducing stress and its partners, such as
breathwork, meditation and the like, perhaps you might try:
1. Gentle or restorative yoga
2. Tai Chi
3. HearthMath
4. Biofeedback
5. Hypnotherapy
6. Body or ear acupuncture
7. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
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