Avoiding vulnerability is a common long covid response that ultimately worsens it. Understanding the paradoxical relationship between vulnerability and long covid opens new pathways for recovery.
How Avoiding Vulnerability Maintains Long Covid
- Concealing long covid from others prevents the connection that would help
- The energy required to maintain a facade when long covid is high is enormous
- Shame about long covid thrives in secrecy — vulnerability interrupts this
- Authentic expression of long covid often elicits the support that reduces it
Brené Brown's Research Relevance to Long Covid
Brown's research shows that people with high levels of shame (common in long covid) avoid vulnerability — which paradoxically increases shame and long covid. Courage to be vulnerable interrupts this cycle.
Practicing Vulnerability with Long Covid
Start small: share one authentic feeling with one trusted person. The feared negative response usually doesn't materialize — and when it doesn't, confidence in vulnerability builds.