LONELINESS LOWERS IMNUMOCOMPETENCE

Posted in Herbal on March 23rd, 2009

The role of loneliness in reducing resistance to the common cold was recently demonstrated in England. Researchers recruited fifty-two men and women and classified each as an introvert or an extrovert. All were then inoculated with cold viruses and kept in hospital for ten days of observation. Tests showed that those with extrovert, outgoing personalities had milder cough symptoms while the withdrawn introverts had worse colds. However, the worst colds of all occurred in those who had recently experienced a cluster of stressful life events.

Several other studies, including one recently made at the University of Denver, have also demonstrated that monkeys deprived of contact with their parents or peers, and forced into loneliness, showed significantly decreased levels of T and B cell activity.

It has also been observed that colds and flu—and particularly pneumonia—commonly occur after one or more stressful life events that cause significant change requiring adaptation. Examples are: divorce, separation, retirement, being fired, and losing a loved one, money or possessions. Anxiety, non-forgiveness, resentment, fear and disappointment and other negative feelings, are often followed almost immediately by a viral infection. If these negative feelings are prolonged, they may eventually be transformed into cancer.

Feeling helpless has been found to be another powerful immuno-suppressant. Millions of people believe they have no control over their health. They believe that colds and flu strike at random and that nothing can be done to prevent them nor to shorten the duration or lessen the severity of symptoms. Such helplessness has frequently been identified with cancer.

Researchers have discovered that the condition of our immune system exactly mirrors our beliefs, thoughts, feelings and moods and the attitudes we hold about ourselves and others. Whatever we focus our minds on is what we get. The way in which we perceive our strengths, self-worth and competence is translated into our immunocompetence.

Literally dozens of separate studies are strongly confirming that negative beliefs, thoughts, feelings and attitudes suppress immunocompetence while positive beliefs, thoughts, emotions and attitudes enhance immunocompetence.

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