Every age of mankind has faced threats to survival. Even so, it does seem as though we are now witnessing events that challenge ways of life and living things all over the planet.
Change can be either positive or negative, though too much of it at once may feel overwhelming. Yet all life forms have built-in mechanisms for adapting to new circumstances, and much of this ability relates to immune function. Our physical, emotional, and environmental experiences scan into our immune systems constantly, to update the balance between our ongoing immune efforts at defense and offense. For immunity, constant change is fairly normal.
Relentless change can generate feelings of anxiety for some people, and it’s not easy to know how to sustain ourselves, our loved ones, and our planet through difficult times. Our collective actions impact Earth’s immunity, just as our individual choices influence immunity in ourselves and among our social circles.
Here are a few strategies that may be worthwhile to consider when you’re feeling overwhelmed by change:
• Give yourself mental health breaks from your usual routine. This could be as simple as enjoying hikes or camping, or as elaborate as a day at a spa. It could also take the form of a daily mind-body practice (martial arts training, yoga, etc.) that allows you to step away from your habitual mindset on a dedicated basis.
• Eating more plant-based, organic, and sustainable foods and supplements helps reduce our collective demands on Earth’s natural resources — and keeps immune function healthier. Even better: foods grown through Regenerative Agriculture methods help rebuild soil fertility and planetary immunity. For more about Regenerative Agriculture, take a peek at this previous posting on this timely topic.
• Name your stressors — list them out one by one! — and don’t hesitate to talk with a professional if you are feeling overpowered by adverse circumstances in your life.
• For those who aren’t allergic to animals, being around them can boost mood, lower stress levels, and train immunity — all at the same time. If you don’t have a pet, you might adopt one of the many in need of a home. You could also volunteer at an animal shelter or do pet sitting for your friends.
On the subject of animals and immunity, here’s a recent study comparing how 1) city dwellers without animals and 2) country dwellers living with animals — and their immune systems — respond to a stress challenge. This stress test consisted of a simulated interview followed by public speaking and a verbal math exercise, a standard research tool known to cause emotional stress and trigger an immune response. Researchers found that, even though both groups of people were considered healthy, those living around animals in the countryside showed a more balanced immune response (less of an “immune mayday” alarm) to the new stressor compared to those living in the city in the absence of animals, even though these country dwellers found the experience to be more emotionally stressful than did those living in the city. Exposure to animals and nature appeared to help subjects’ immune function stay closer to ‘normal’ surveillance mode after an unusual stress experience — a good demonstration of resilience.
