Regaining Our Senses: Resuming Our Mind-Body Connections (?)

The COVID Assault:  The arrival of COVID-19 brought with it, among other unwelcome features, both a frontal assault as well as one that proved more insidious in nature, eventually involving all (5) of our senses, in one way or another. In other words, "Have you completely lost your senses?!" has taken on new meaning: On the one hand we have experienced a dulling of our senses, whereas at others we have found ourselves in states of hyperarousal, 'sensory overload'...what gives?! It's as if we have become disconnected, at least discombobulated! Well, I'm here today to help you get you back into alignment. First, a quick survey of our senses and how they have been affected:

Near Sighted, Shrouded Judgement: While wearing a mask itself hasn't interfered with our line of sight, most of us have found ourselves making judgements about what we are seeing from a greater distance than that we are accustomed, perhaps based on partial information: "I think she's making faces at me under that mask!"...I can read his eyes..." You know what they say about making assumptions...caution called for here, especially if wearing a mask has fogged your glasses...

Out of Touch, A Bit Too Touchy: Goldilocks all over again! We complain about having to distance ourselves, especially from those we are genial but, upon approach, avoid a handshake, even a fist bump these days, let alone accepting a hug from those we love ("I know you're my mom, but where have you been and who have you been with?!). Sensory defensive to be sure.

Clear and Concise, Please: The human language with all it's nuances is challenging enough for us to discern, absent a mask...add that to the mix and we find ourselves asking for things to be repeated, but not TOO loudly as to risk human aerosol, in as few words as possible. Oh, you want me to truncate my message, like texting? Now THAT should really add clarity....NOT!! If this pandemic lasts more than a few months, watch for signing to be mandated in closed places and to become a core subject in schools. If we are challenged to communicate now, can you imagine the miscommunications and misinterpretations that would likely occur in transition?

Insomnia, Ad Nauseam, and now...anosmia, parosmia, ageusia?! As if difficulty with sleep and hearing the same things on the news every night wasn't enough, now you're daunting me with new sensory vocab?! Like the loss of smell ("anosmia"), an otherwise abnormal sense of smell ("parosmia"), or a loss in one's ability to discern the difference between sweet, sour, bitter, salt, and umami (which sounds like what a child would say when they wake up in the morning, but actually refers to  pleasant and savory)..."ageusia", which is the loss of the taste functions of the tongue. There, now you have the proper vocabulary when someone has shared some of their COVID like symptoms, the ones most frequently cited as those likely to diminish if/when one is diagnosed with the virus. Some report a quick return of smell and taste, while others might have to engage in 'smell training': sniffing scents to spark the sense! (utilizing rose, lemon, eucalyptus, and clove...go figure). 

Sensory Deprivation, expanded form: In addition to the 'Fab Five' senses, I have been witness to a few other important senses that have deviated from normal as of late:

       - Sense of fairness: ranging from which types of businesses have to shut down (and those lucky few who were allowed to stay open in, depending on what state you reside in), to the longer injustices laid bare during the elections, to who goes to the front of the line to be vaccinated...

       - Sense of Self: your idea of what type of person you really are has been tested by the strains of the pandemic...

       - Sense of Humor: well, I haven't lost mine but apparently others have, as they aren't getting my punch lines as readily...perhaps because they can't hear or see, certainly not a problem with my 'masked' delivery...

Home Remedies: So, all this being said, it's high time we all come to our senses, don't you agree? If my personal, professional  powers of persuasion are not sufficient, there's the old fashioned, time tested method for 'bringing us around' -- ammonium carbonate which, when mixed with water is referred to as "aromatic spirits of ammonia" (almost sounds romantic, just in time for Valentine's Day)...AKA SMELLING SALTS! A final point of interest, in harmony with the times in which we live, the recommended distance (due to its possible toxicity and adverse effects on the nasal or oral mucosa, not so romantic) is 10-15 centimeters (4-6" around here). Which, if administered properly and well timed, allows you on Valentine's Day to...wake up and smell the roses!