I developed symptoms of long covid and ME/CFS in 2020, during my doctoral training. Rather than listen to my body, I numbed out and pushed through, determined to qualify as a clinical psychologist after dedicating several years of my life to that goal. By the time I qualified, after a particularly punishing case of the Omicron variant, I went from pushing, crashing and semi-functioning, to my body completely shutting down.

In the early days of the pandemic, when society was grappling with the chaos of COVID-19, I was entrenched in my doctoral studies, consumed by ambition. Then I succumbed to a relentless fatigue that felt unlike anything I had ever experienced. I dismissed the symptoms as mere stress, as so many do when caught in the grind of academia. My journey into recovery began after a devastating encounter with the Omicron variant, where my body rebelled against my unyielding push for perfection.

A Blurred Distinction

At first, the symptoms were manageable—mild fatigue, an occasional headache. But as I forged ahead, my body retaliated. By late 2020, I was experiencing orthostatic intolerance, rendering me unable to stand without feeling faint. Severe migraines accompanied by insomnia and debilitating brain fog plagued my daily existence. Activities as simple as reading or watching TV became luxuries I could not afford.

Amid insidious changes in my health, I turned to an array of coping mechanisms in search of relief. Mainstream medicine had offered little coherence in understanding long COVID, leading me to explore unconventional pathways such as:

• Meditation and gentle yoga
• Graded exposure to previously unmanageable activities
• Nutritional supplements and dietary changes
• Craniosacral therapy
• Expressive writing and emotional reconnection

More critically, my understanding evolved when I stumbled upon the burgeoning research around neuroplasticity and how the brain might perpetuate persistent physical symptoms. I found solace and a potential path forward in the concept of retraining my mind’s responses. An intriguing study published by Dr. Laura Hastings at the University of Cambridge explored how psychological factors could drive physical manifestations in patients just like me.

Redefining Recovery

After a year-long battle, I achieved a partial recovery and secured a position as a clinical psychologist within an NHS long COVID service. Initially, the role felt like a beacon of hope, both for myself and for those I served. Yet, as organizational changes led to the fallout of senior clinicians, I found myself solo in navigating a complicated landscape for the patients of two NHS trusts.

Under the weight of my responsibilities, I experienced burnout and a notable relapse. I had to confront an uncomfortable truth: recovery is not merely about pushing through; it is about constructing a sustainable life. So, with a heavy heart, I left my NHS role to create a private practice centering on those grappling with long COVID, ME/CFS, and analogous conditions.

Voices of Concern

In conversations with esteemed colleagues like Dr. Aspa Paltoglou, there exists a palpable tension. Dr. David Joffe, a noted physician and vice-chair of the World Health Network Long COVID Working Group, argues, “Long COVID is a direct, organic, neurological condition, and the vast majority of patients will never return to their prior functionality.” Statements like these cast shadows over the optimism that I and others have worked tirelessly to cultivate.

However, Dr. Paltoglou emphasizes the need to avoid “psychologising” long COVID, particularly given the historical gaslighting of ME/CFS patients. Many in the medical community risk perpetuating stigma if they too narrowly define long COVID as purely psychological. Yet, a hypersensitivity to this concern can also lead to an outright dismissal of psychosocial elements that might play a critical role in recovery.

Illness as a Process

I have come to realize that illness is a complex tapestry woven from biology, psychology, and social context. The emerging research reflects potential physiological mechanisms driving long COVID, such as:

• Viral persistence
• Autoimmunity
• Chronic inflammation
• Reactivation of dormant viruses like Epstein Barr

Yet, isolating one singular cause for the myriad symptoms remains tenuous at best. There is mounting evidence indicating that factors like chronic stress and emotional trauma interact intricately with our immune responses, impacting recovery trajectories. Dr. Monty Lyman compellingly states, “While we understand how severe organ damage can persist post-COVID, how can a benign infection lead to enduring brain changes?”

Addressing the interplay between the brain and stressors offers a path not just to symptom management but to a nuanced understanding of recovery dynamics.

Diverse Approaches to Healing

Psychological therapies are re-emerging as essential components of healing, not mere adjuncts. A study led by Harvard Medical School’s Dr. Michael Donnino examined the efficacy of Psychophysiologic Relief Therapy (PRT) for long COVID sufferers. The results were revolutionary—a median reduction in fatigue by 44%, brain fog by 67%, and pain by 52%, paving the way for participants to reclaim agency in their healing process.

While skeptics may point to small sample sizes and the need for rigorous trials, my lived experience urges me to remain open. Normal Doidge’s notion resonates within me: if a method presents no side effects and potential benefits, should we not explore it despite the current lack of extensive research?

Remaining Curious

Above all, I find hope in witnessing transformations fueled by psychological awareness. As Dr. Paul Garner penned in the British Medical Journal, retraining one’s brain to reinterpret symptoms can yield remarkable recovery breakthroughs. A growing body of literature suggests that psychological factors can indeed rewire physiological responses, fostering resilience in the body’s complex defense systems.

We stand at a crossroads, where the risk of falling into the traps of binary thinking looms large. As we advocate for multi-disciplinary approaches to treatment, the imperative remains to honor the unique experiences of those suffering. Psychological frameworks can not only help manage the load but potentially shift the paradigm of recovery itself. In doing so, perhaps we can reshape the narrative that long COVID equates to a lifetime of limitation; instead, it may lead us toward new horizons of understanding and healing.

Source: www.bps.org.uk