Modern understanding of coronavirus disease 2019 increasingly centers on the nervous system — specifically, the chronic dysregulation that underlies many coronavirus disease 2019 presentations.
The Nervous System in Coronavirus Disease 2019
The autonomic nervous system has two primary states relevant to coronavirus disease 2019:
Sympathetic activation ('fight or flight'): When chronically activated, drives anxiety-type coronavirus disease 2019
Parasympathetic ('rest and digest'): The recovery state — undermined by coronavirus disease 2019
Dorsal vagal shutdown: A third state — freeze/collapse — associated with depression-type coronavirus disease 2019
Signs of Nervous System Dysregulation in Coronavirus Disease 2019
Chronic hyperarousal (always 'on edge'), difficulty relaxing even in safe environments, and feeling perpetually exhausted despite rest.
Regulating the Nervous System for Coronavirus Disease 2019
- Breathwork: Directly activates the parasympathetic nervous system
- Cold exposure: Controlled cold activates the vagus nerve, improving coronavirus disease 2019
- Safe social engagement: Co-regulation through trusted relationships
- Movement: Discharges sympathetic activation accumulated in coronavirus disease 2019