Intense emotions & my immunity system

[Enigma]

Hi All.

It's been a few months since I've posted-- I'm a member in a 12 week closed group for male survivors, and it has been very good for me.

One of the goals I had set out for this group was being able to tap into the well of intense grief and terror/rage I know I have. In the past few weeks I have definitely found this well, esp grief. The actual grief experiences are very real and intense, but also not nearly as scary and overwhelming as I feared. So, this is still good.

Now the bad news: I get very sick after I grieve -- high fever (102+), chills, body aches, major headaches. Think bad flu and falling off a three story building at the same time.

I have found a few references to research articles that indicate some people are "high reactors" to emotional pain, and experience increased stress hormone (cortisol, catecholamine) levels and rapid division of CD8 cells (which suppress CD4 fighter cells).

I exercise regularly and take care of myself, so my immune system is usually ok. I believe that when I experience intense grief, massive amounts of stress hormones are relased, which completely overwhelms and suppresses my immune system, allowing latent or opportunistic viruses to have their way with me.

So, the equation is something like: 15 minutes of intense grief = 3 days incapaciting flu-like symptoms. This is not a good ratio.

Any thoughts on how to arrest/mitigate this process??

Thanks, SFChris

 

[Sick Puppy]

Wow, I didn't know there was that sort of connection between emotional stress and physical health.

I suppose that could explain why I get sick so much.

I haven't much to offer in the way of suggestions, but there are perhaps some kind of supplements you could take to further strengthen your immune system.

 

[Marc]

Wow!!! Revelation to me! I have been so constantly sick in the past year... low grade fevers, headaches, etc... Thought that I might have HIV even but been tested again and again and negative. I was beginning to think I was a hypochondriac. But since at least September it has been a constant amount of stress to my mind/body.

I'll be asking my T about this. Maybe between the meds, therapy and exercise that I am doing, I'll have a better year. Something to look forward to!

 

[Wuamei]

Hi All.

It's been a few months since I've posted-- I'm a member in a 12 week closed group for male survivors, and it has been very good for me.

Chris welcome back been wondering about you. That group sounds really terrific--glad it helped you.

One of the goals I had set out for this group was being able to tap into the well of intense grief and terror/rage I know I have. In the past few weeks I have definitely found this well, esp grief. The actual grief experiences are very real and intense, but also not nearly as scary and overwhelming as I feared. So, this is still good.

Interesting--a good male survivor friend & I have
been helping each other thru some intense grief lately. I've still got a lot to do.

Now the bad news: I get very sick after I grieve -- high fever (102+), chills, body aches, major headaches. Think bad flu and falling off a three story building at the same time.

Interesting again--I do too. "Bad flu & falling off a 3 story building at the same time"--that sounds like an FM (fibromyalgia--chronic pain) attack!

I exercise regularly and take care of myself, so my immune system is usually ok. I believe that when I experience intense grief, massive amounts of stress hormones are relased, which completely overwhelms and suppresses my immune system, allowing latent or opportunistic viruses to have their way with me.

Well I can't with my FM & Complex PTSD say that about my immune system--it's feeble. But yeah it gets worse when I really grieve--probably why I've been avoiding it--and what you're saying really makes sense.

So, the equation is something like: 15 minutes of intense grief = 3 days incapaciting flu-like symptoms. This is not a good ratio.

Any thoughts on how to arrest/mitigate this process??

Thanks, SFChris

Wow Chris I dunno I been workin' hard at that one!

However for some ideas in some threads just recently started you could check out:

https://www.malesurvivor.org/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=001836

https://www.malesurvivor.org/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=001820

https://www.malesurvivor.org/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=001812

Hope something here helps.

Welcome back Chris!

Victor

 

[Lloydy]

I came across this Professors site earlier on and somewhere there I saw a paper on trauma and phsical ailments.
But I didn't look at it then and the files are huge ( on Adobe Acrobat ) and take forever to download.
But here's his homepage -

https://homepage.psy.utexas.edu/homepage/faculty/pennebaker/Pennebaker.html

Go to 'List of research articles' - and at the top of the page it says something like 'Research articles and book chapters' there's a 'this website' link.

Look down the list and you'll find -

*Petrie, K.P., Booth, R.J., & Pennebaker, J.W. (1998). The immunological effects of thought suppression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75, 1264-1272. An experiment that demonstrates when people try to suppress their thoughts about traumatic experiences, immune changes result.

*Pennebaker, J.W., Kiecolt-Glaser, J., & Glaser, R. (1988). Disclosure of traumas and immune function: Health implications for psychotherapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56, 239-245. The first writing study to demonstrate that disclosure of emotional upheavals can influence immune function.

I have no idea what's there, I went into a coma waiting for the download.

Dave

 

[Enigma]

Victor, Dave,

Thanks much for the links; they are helpful. I'm okay with feeling awful "in the moment", it's to be expected. I just want to avoid or at least attenuate the aftermath.

Chris