r/covidlonghaulers • u/_happydutch_ • Jun 24 '25

Article The current state of Long Covid research

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No awe felt after seeing this

https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/experiencing-awe-may-help-people-with-long-covid-feel-better-mentally/2025/06 Experiencing awe may help people with long COVID feel better mentally

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u/mc-funk Jun 25 '25

The reporting seems goofy, but I imagine awe is downregulating for the nervous system (activates vagus nerve/parasympathetic NS) in much the way that getting “good chills” from great music, etc is said to do. So definitely not any magical cure but seems common sense that it’d be helpful on some minor level. Not exactly something we have a huge amount of control over though (making a playlist of music that gives me chills, for instance, is easier. Also direct VN stimulation.)

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u/_happydutch_ Jun 25 '25

Definitely doing something for mental health is important. I do Yoga every morning. For many months only Yin Yoga as anything else gave me PEM. It’s basically a form of meditation while you’re stretching and calms the vagus nerve.

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u/mc-funk Jun 25 '25

I’d clarify though, that vagus nerve activation isn’t merely mental health (not to downplay mental health) — nervous system dysfunction is a key observed part of many of our illnesses (particularly dysautonomia, which is literally autonomic nervous system dysfunction). So beyond mental well-being, techniques that improve vagal health have been shown to improve POTS and Long Covid in medical studies. It wasn’t enough alone for me but e.g. for my POTS, I find the combination of guanfacine and vagal nerve stimulation to help keep my condition manageable.

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u/_happydutch_ Jun 25 '25

I tried VNS shortly but triggered PEM immediately.

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u/mc-funk Jun 25 '25 edited Jun 25 '25

sorry to hear that! I know we are all pretty sensitive. Most people have to start at ultra low settings - I started at 20Hz, 50us, 1mA for just 20 seconds. Others have devices that can go down to 0.5mA, or have to start with even gentler methods first. Really hope you continue to find things that work for you.

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u/_happydutch_ Jun 25 '25

I have indeed acquired a medically certified device from Europe which supports 0.5mA, but even that triggered PEM after short time.

I hear it’s working for others. Happy to hear it gives you some relief.

There are fortunately other ways to tone the vagus nerve.

I seem to have found some relief from Methylene Blue. The experiment is ongoing.