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 Jo Calk |
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When and How to Fight
by Jo Calk
As adult survivors of child abuse, we are accustomed to fighting – fighting for our lives, fighting our demons, fighting for justice, fighting our flashbacks and nightmares, and fighting to be heard. We also have had a lot of experience with fear – fear of another attack, fear of going to sleep, fear of being alone, fear of no one there to help us, and fear that our lives will never change.
However, fighting and fear are often NOT the best defenses against the COVID-19 virus. Is that counterintuitive? Although having COVID-19 is not a death sentence by any means (97% or more recover), it is still an “enemy” we must fear, fight against, and win – right?
Let’s look at what happens to the body when we fight. |
To fight off a predator or a powerful enemy, we need all our strength available in our arms and legs, to physically fight off and run away. The body efficiently provides all of its energy and focus on the arms and legs, and the heart rate increases, providing more oxygen for extra strength. That’s the good news. However, in order for the body to focus all its energy on fight/flight/freeze, the body has to shut down some systems during that time.
The body stops the digestive process, which usually takes a significant amount of energy to break down and eliminate the foods we eat. This does not harm the body for short periods of time in order to provide short bursts of energy for the fight response.
However, the body also shuts down the immune system and the body’s ability to repair and heal itself. Again, in short instances of severe stress where fight/flight/freeze are the only options, this does not create permanent harm to the body. The stress hormones, cortisol and adrenaline, were never intended to be produced for extended periods of time.
With the immune system shut down, the body does not produce its own immune defense against a viral predator like COVID-19. Being an opportunistic virus, the coronavirus easily attacks a body with an inactive immune system. At the time you are in fight/flight/freeze stress mode, your body is open to attack. Without an internal immune system to create antiviral protection, your body can become sicker.
Add fear to the fight reflex, and the stress hormones’ production is increased. In fact, even if you are not trying to fight against COVID-19, your fear of it is sufficient to shut down your immune system and internal repairing and healing. Under normal circumstances, the body is constantly replacing old cells, adding new cells, repairing any damaged areas, and spreading the natural immunity throughout the body.
When the repairing and healing functions are shut down, old cells pile up within the body, damaged areas are unattended, and there is no internal immunity to spread. This actually weakens the body’s core – at the same time as the arms and legs are strengthened to fight an invisible attacker.
The best way to “fight” the coronavirus is to relax your body, which stops the flow of adrenaline and cortisol, and allows your body’s natural immune system to create the antiviral protection your body needs. Although this sounds simple – almost simplistic – it is hard for us survivors to relax, to “let our guard down.” Trust your body’s ability to keep you healthy.
Think only of staying healthy. Don’t succumb to the fears and panic of others.
You now know what your body needs to deal with COVID-19. Support your body and your health by remaining calm, relaxed, and focusing only on your health and happiness. We are strong – we will get through this.
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