April 12, 2020<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Kindly follow this trail:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A \u2018stress\u2019 primer<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The concept of \u2018stress\u2019 seems simple. Its origin lies in mechanical stress. The way it is mostly used nowadays is also related to a mechanical view on the human being. Many \u2018stress\u2019 tests boil the experience down to a number. Levels of stress are compared to their influence on health and well-being.<\/p>\n
To be fully useful, in humans and animals as well, we need a more complex stress-concept, taking into account deeper meaningfulness. I use this concept in this blog. I see in stress the presence of many self-perpetuating patterns of meaning. One example of deep meaning is <Help, I\u2019m gonna die!><\/p>\n
But one doesn\u2019t need to be panicky to be stressed. With a simple stress concept, it may be harder to see the correct correlations. With a too broad stress-concept, one risks to use it in an over-explanatory way. This is a scientific challenge.<\/p>\n
In stress, as in many other issues, non-conscious mental processing is more important than conscious mental processing. Any \u2018deep meaning\u2019 is first realized at the non-conscious level. Stress is mostly a non-conscious happening. Only from there, we can start to experience anything consciously at all. Only from there also, we can see many influences from mind to body, also in relation to Covid.<\/p>\n
In the following, there are knowns and unknowns. I made the text less readable by pointing to this.<\/p>\n
How we get ill from the virus (probably)<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Many people get infected with SARS-CoV-2, which seems to be \u00a0\u2013 fact<\/strong> \u2013 much more infectious than other coronaviruses. Many of the infected people develop \u00a0\u2013 fact<\/strong> \u2013 no symptoms or only slight ones.<\/p>\n
Within a person, the virus replicates \u00a0\u2013 fact<\/strong> \u2013 like crazy, making the person a \u2018virus shedder\u2019 especially when symptomatic (sneezing, couching). Thus, almost in every case, the infected person has been able to infect others \u00a0\u2013 fact<\/strong> \u2013 before he turns very ill.<\/p>\n
Stress inhibits \u00a0\u2013 fact<\/strong> \u2013 a strong immune response. We see this also \u00a0\u2013 fact<\/strong> \u2013 in the case of vaccination. In Covid, this same phenomenon leads to an even more pronounced viral replication phase. The person develops a huge viral load, becoming a super shedder. That is the opportunity of this virus.<\/p>\n
After a weak response, as it often goes, follows a hard one. [see: \u201cWeak, Hard, Strong, Gentle<\/a>\u201d] In Covid, this shows as a massive immune response, killing viruses but also leading to a huge inflammation reaction. Here again, stress is a culprit. We know that chronic stress leads \u2013 fact<\/strong> \u2013 to chronic low-grade inflammation. Also, acute stress may lead \u00a0\u2013 fact<\/strong> \u2013 to intense acute inflammation. The chronic makes people prone to a massive impact of the acute. Thus, the hard immune response may become life-threatening.<\/p>\n
We know that age and anxiety negatively influence the immune response. Both together even more \u00a0\u2013 fact<\/strong> \u2013 than their simple sum. Thus, older people get more severely ill and might also be more infectious in the beginning, mostly to each other. This may explain \u00a0\u2013 hypothesis<\/strong> \u2013 the vast toll that we see in homes for the elderly.<\/p>\n
To do, person-level<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Definitely, without the virus, there would not be an immune overreaction against the virus. The measures against viral shedding are mandatory.<\/p>\n
At the same time, we should look at the mind. Our mind may be at least as important as the virus in being infectious and becoming ill or even dying. Individuals need support in this.<\/p>\n
To do, society-level<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
At the societal level, we need to be careful about how we spread messages and meanings. We want people to keep a distance. \u2018A bit of panic\u2019 may help in this, but at the cost of mounting stress. Deeply<\/em> positive messages are far preferable. Unfortunately, \u2018deeply\u2019 is an orphan in an increasingly superficial world. I see the latter as a saddening fact. We are losing depth, which makes many people more and more anxious. [see: \u201cAnxiety<\/a><\/u>\u201d] Older people may be more vulnerable to this, physically and mentally. Knowingly or unknowingly, they experience \u00a0\u2013 hypothesis<\/strong> \u2013 the trend. They come from another age.<\/p>\n
Of course, a deeply<\/em> positive message is not just saying so-and-so. In fact, the latter is extremely dangerous. We see strongmen saying so-and-so. At a tipping point of disaster, it backfires enormously. The tragedy becomes complete. The primary victims are vulnerable people. In my view, this may be the most essential part of any message: you do it out of care for the more vulnerable.<\/p>\n
Indeed: for the more vulnerable in your direct environment as well as at the other side of town, continent, world. In a global village, everybody comes to the campfire.<\/p>\n
We should not denigrate the virus as part of the problem, but it IS<\/em> only part of the problem. Our mind is another part. As said, the non-conscious plays a huge role in stress. The messages should be accordingly.<\/p>\n
Looking at the Covid world map<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
At this moment, weeks into the challenge, it may strike anyone that Europe and the US are hit most hardly. India, Afrika, and Latin-America are still spared of the worst. However, the virus is gaining terrain. These parts of the world may still fall off the cliff.<\/p>\n
We, from the epicenter of the disaster, should avoid pushing them off the cliff even more by messages of unavoidable doom. Apart from lots of physical support, they need responsibility in body and mind. Are we a good example of the latter?<\/p>\n
Back to Wuhan<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I don\u2019t want to commit \u2018culture bashing,\u2019 but cannot approve of what happens at live markets anywhere. They should be banned. They are bad for the animals. They are also bad for the future of humanity!<\/p>\n
The animals in the \u2018live market\u2019 are very stressed. Thus, they are very infectious to each other. The ones who are infected get immense viral loads. This happens again and again, creating a niche for our type of coronavirus. It learns to take advantage of stress.<\/p>\n
Jumping over to humans, it gets its \u2018aha experience.\u2019 Isn\u2019t this human creature an exceptionally stressful animal? So, the human cycle begins, and it goes very rapidly. Helped by personal transportation, the virus conquers the world.<\/p>\n
The rest will be history. There is always a lesson in history. We should learn it now.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n