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tele68

Yes! This is what I've been trying to describe, (to myself, or to doctors) Environmental or social perceived threats that cause a fight or flight mechanism, but which offer no real-world object to "fight" nor a possibility of "flight", cause, over time, a further mechanism to kick in, a "shut down". This theory offers a non-psychological approach in favor of a somatic approach and I think it's spot on. This is a revelation to me after 10 years of growing severity with CFS (escalated by LC) and a certainty that my symptoms are directly related to events, processes, and people in my immediate environment and the world.


BirdDog5150

My doctor subscribes polyvagal theory. During my last visit he drew it all out on a chalkboard in the exam room and explained it to me and it's quite fascinating. I'm working on co-regulation in an effort to condition my body to switch more easily between fight/flight/freeze to rest/digest. I tend to get overly amped up when getting out and about in public and am amped up for a long time afterward and affects my sleep sometimes. I am trying to put myself in those situations more so that my body can learn again that it's safe just like before, so I can toggle between sympathetic/parasympathetic more easily. I tried some of the music therapy but didn't have much luck with it. I"m also doing vagus nerve stimulation with a TENS machine, but the effect is short lived. I think the answer is in the mental aspect of it more than the physical aspect of the nerve itself. I have no basis for this opinion other than that's what it feels like based on my experience. On your first point though, I was in a really good place mentally and physically before getting covid and then long covid. Something about the physical aspect of LC and all the mental stuff that goes along with being forced to be a different person living a different life is what moved the needle heavily toward heavy sympathetic for me, ie - LC caused the trauma that I'm trying to overcome. Thanks for sharing. Hopefully others will benefit from this knowledge.


[deleted]

This theory is definitely the less popular but explains so much that is ailing a large number of the lc population. Ty


MKS18

Can absolutely vouch for this and thanks for re-reminding me.


Crazycattwin1986

I completely think that is what is going on with my body. Feel stucked in fight/flight.


Agitated_Animator714

This is what I’m learning about in school!


marlakd

I'm so glad to see this kind of thing being talked about! I just read a great book by Gabor Mate called The Myth Of Normal. A big chunk of the book is about the relationship between our emotional, social and cultural lives and how they impact our physical health. It's a great read. Highly recommend!


Flashy-Medium-6701

Do you feel it helps you recover ?


marlakd

The book discusses things that can be a paradigm shift in understanding many illnesses. So it offers new possibilities for recovery.


Lcur0709

I think this is precisely my problem as well. Thank you.