Locked down, but not out…

“Being able to feel safe with other people is probably the single most important aspect of mental health; safe connections are fundamental to meaningful and satisfying lives”. – Dr Bessel van der Kolk, MD, author of The Body keeps the Score and researcher at the Trauma Research Foundation and Boston Neurodynamics : www.besselvanderkolk.net.

Yes, it’s bonkers, and we will get through it.

First thing we can do is reword “social distancing” to “physical distancing”. We need the social connection more than ever, even if it does have to be mostly virtual. Dr Besel van der Kolk, a leading authority on trauma, stresses the importance of “safe connection” with other people. Let’s fight to keep that.

As practitioners in our particular field, maybe the greatest contribution we can make is to stay sane and resist the hysteria. Without going too off the wall into conspiracy theories, government and media do want us to stay scared. They don’t seem to realise what that’s doing to our immunity and general health.

We need factual information and mostly we’re not getting it. As I write, I’m seeing vaccine scientists at Johns Hopkins saying the virus is not mutating quickly and researchers in Iceland documenting 40 mutations. I’m reading that New York hospitals are treating coronavirus patients with intravenous vitamin C following “successes” in China: the Chinese protocol uses 12g doses; New York docs are using 1.5g – ridiculously tiny doses. I’m seeing hype about vaccines and “herd immunity” at the same time China’s top coronavirus expert says that “herd immunity” – and by implication, vaccines – won’t work. Prof Zhong Nanshan identified the original SARS virus; he should know. Research is showing that people’s adaptive immune systems are not always able to develop antibodies to SARS-Cov-2 that are strong or long-lasting enough to keep from contracting the disease again.

In contrast, in this issue we’ve cut through to the essentials AND are featuring inspiring reports that reinforce the idea that we are NOT defenceless, and we know enough to be able to beat this. (See our Quote of the Month for starters).

Above all: stay connected.

• I know you’ve got a pile of IHCAN mags sitting there – maybe now’s the time to catch up with your reading. And online CPD. Follow me on twitter, where I’ll be posting links to as many free education opportunities as I can find, as well as links to blog posts that will keep you up to date and inspired.

• And please check page 16 for the re-shuffled IHCAN conference and Summit schedule.

Simon Martin
Editor