HOW FEAR AFFECTS YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM - Dr Appiah
Why your health may be severely suffering during the COVID19 outbreak, even if you are not exposed: The scariest part of this pandemic
This isn’t going to be an article trying to convince you the COVID-19 virus isn’t something to worry about, because right now having some fears come up is unavoidable. I primarily attribute this to the media is pushing intense fear/panic at us, by using inaccurate footage1 of overcrowded hospitals in NYC (but it was actually Italy), deaths attributed to COVID19 when the person in question is actually alive and well, or died from other causes.
The United States as a whole is in a moral panic. Will our jobs be okay? Will the stock market crash? Will we all get sick and die? Do we have enough toilet paper in our house to last six more months?
We have to learn how to deal with this “moral panic” that is way more likely to infect our minds than our lungs.
Long-Term Stress and Physical Consequences
First I want to say that it is not inherently abnormal to jump to fear in a state of “crisis”. This is a protective and paramount mechanism that humans have instilled within them: to SURVIVE.However, this mechanism is meant for short bursts only. When we are in this state of fear and worry for extended periods of time, it will physically cause issues. Countless studies have shown this correlation: how “chronic stress has a significant effect on the immune system that ultimately manifest in illness”.
It has been shown to increase the risk of diabetes by altering insulin needs. Stress can cause peptic ulcers or ulcerative colitis, as it can alter the acid in the stomach (side note: low stomach acid is not a good thing, more on PPIs and their dangers here). Chronic stress and worrying over your fears can also lead to plaque build up in arteries. It also has a stronger correlation with psychiatric illness, like depression and schizophrenia. There are also recent studies that show a link between stress and tumor development (cancer) and suppression of natural killer cells (the ones that usually destroy cancer in our bodies).
According to Occupational Health and Safety news and the National Council on compensation of insurance, “up to 90% of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress-related complaints.”
Fear and the Immune System
Exposure to acute stress, trauma, and fear have been shown in both mice and humans to compromise immune function10 and impair lymphocyte function (lymphocytes are our white blood cells that fight viruses). Fear and stress makes you more vulnerable to infectious diseases.
Strategies to Combat Fear
One technique you can use for fear when it comes up is deep belly breathing with positive affirmations. This helps coax the body into a relaxation mode, and it is very helpful in stressful situations when you feel any anxiety rising up. By breathing down deeply into your belly (not expanding your chest), you are stimulating the Vagus nerve, which runs along the diaphragm to put your body back into parasympathetic mode (calming, slows heart rate, helps digestion). It’s hard to catch yourself before going into the rabbit hole of fear, but it is very helpful, and possible with practice!ALSO: HOW TO MANAGE STRESS: STRESS MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
When you feel the fear and the “what-if” thoughts start to rise up. Stop right where you are. Close your eyes.
Find a positive affirmation of truth that completely counters the previous worry. For example: for fear of disease, use “My body is strong, healthy, and I trust my immune system”. Or for fear of financial loss, use “I am capable of anything, and trust that God has my back in this”. Find whatever works for you.
Place your hands over your lower belly, with your pointer and middle fingers touching.
Breath deep into your belly through your nose. Your hands should separate slightly as you breathe in.
Breathe out all the way, slowly through your mouth.
Do 10-20 deep breaths, then open your eyes and notice if you feel more grounded and stable.
What the Scriptures Say
The last thing I want to say is that in the Bible, God commands us to “fear not” over 100 times. The enemy will use fear to decrease our hope in Him, so I hope these verses resonate with you like they do for me in my times of struggle and anxious thoughts.
— 2nd Timothy 1:7: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
— Psalm 84:11: “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
— Deuteronomy 31:8 “He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
— Psalm 18:2 “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer.”
Be safe and well my friends!
SOURCE:www.drlaurendeville.com
DR. APPIAH
Dr. Appiah is a Natural Health Therapist (Naturopath) who engages the natural healing agents given by God to save lives. EAT FOOD AS MEDICINE! EAT TO LIVE, DON'T LIVE TO EAT!! FOR BOOKINGS AND MORE: WANT TO ADVERTISE YOUR PRODUCTS? WANT A PERSONAL(CERTIFIED) NATURAL MEDICINE PRACTITIONER? REACH ME DIRECTLY ON WHATSAPP +233245643615 appiahinok@gmail.com
