Any #LongCOVID survivors open to sharing their experience? I’m struggling to make sense of what’s happening to my nervous system. I recently spoke with a friend about it, but I’m looking for something in writing to help me process it. My emotions are on a constant loop—anxiety, sadness, laughter, and crying all within minutes. I feel very overwhelmed and could really use some support or resources. Thank you.
#covid #CovidInquiry #NeurologicalSymptoms #CovidRecovery #neurology
@dariana Yes! I routinely get hyperactive emotions (and some PTSD-adjacent symptoms) as part of my long covid. I'm generally most distressed in months 3-8, and then it gradually dies down as I start figuring out my new baseline and ramps up whenever I overdo.
Things that help over time (not usually right away):
- anything that improves my nighttime sleep quality. Anything - rest, distress reduction, gently drifting around my home, vitamins and supplements, sleep hygiene or regular naps - anything!
- distress reduction techniques. These are different for different people and need trial and error to figure out - for me they include lying with my feet up the wall so my blood pools in my torso, sensory stimulation (heat, touch, scent), removal of environmental stressors (can't cope with any kind of stress and need extremely predictable environment - the cheese slicer must always be in precisely the same place), manual lymphatic drainage of the face/head, and daily enforced scheduled boredom (like meditation, but bonus points for napping).
- active rest. Not just physically lying fully horizontal sometimes, but cognitive (achieving a minimum duration of enforced scheduled boredom and naps/sleep, as well as stopping in the middle of activities when a time limit is reached), emotional (see distress reduction), and sensory (limiting conversation, tv, music, games - nothing blinky or with jerky cameras or sudden sounds).
NeeAnah 🇵🇷
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