On the Friday, my voice started to sound strained. I’d been talking too much, I reasoned. (Anyone who knows me knows I’m often garrulous!) So I upped my liquids, had sensible bedtimes and ignored the tickle in my throat. It was a perfect nuisance, I had things organised all weekend, couldn’t miss out. No time for a wretched c@@d! That four letter word that raises my anxiety levels unduly.

But, unfortunately, as the weekend wore on, I had to admit defeat, and give in to the sneezing and sore throat, and take residence upstairs with a new book and a radio. And two boxes of Man-size tissues! Grrrr! I indulged in some inner whining, why me, why now, but the lazy side of me was secretly glad of the break. It was maybe a typical case of me exhausting myself while I was high!

And the body keeps the score! It DOES, doesn’t it? I’m wondering: Have you experienced this too? As a sadly non-sciency person, I only imagine the workings of my body, and its relationship with the mind. I didn’t do well at ‘O’ Level Biology at school (even if l did draw nice sketches of the various stages of the tapeworm in Year 4! ). And rarely read anything medical with much understanding.

So why should I fear getting a cold. There… I’ve said it? It’s annoying, but most people bounce back in no time at all, and don’t get severe energy depletion. Or do they? When I was teaching, it was rare for people to take time off, horror of horrors, for a trifling cold. I feel different: it flattens me. I can barely function, get brain fog, and slump on the nearest soft surface. It’s fair to say the cold goes to my chest 99% of the time, with a bad and annoying cough, and bronchitis sometimes .

So, my fellow Moodscopers:

How do you prepare for the INVASION of the common cold ?Does it affect you unduly? Maybe you’re one of those fortunate people who never get a cold? And CAN you ever PREVENT a cold from developing?

I should dearly love to know.

Sally

A Moodscope member