Art Therapy for Covid Tongue (Anything’s Worth a Try)
This is not my usual kind of epistle, but more of a kind of experiment.
In the grand scheme of things, this is no biggie, but it's driving me a little bit bonkers.
For the past four months, I've experienced a peculiar sensation at the tip of my tongue, akin to the aftermath of sipping tea that's a tad too hot—though I didn’t. This persistent feeling, coupled with my glands fluctuating every other day and the sense in my throat of an illness that never fully manifests, has led me to a self-diagnosis: Covid tongue. Doctor Google confirmed my suspicions; such a condition exists, and my symptoms are bang on.
While there are far more severe symptoms associated with long Covid, this anomaly has unsettled any equanimity—a term I've embraced since embarking on mindful meditation. Which has helped with the anxiety, but not with the tongue. A friend who works in art therapy proposed I channel this experience into art. The goal? To evoke empathy for my beleaguered taste buds, which are not only inflamed but also betray me, making avocados taste like fish. Not the good kind.
The underlying belief is that by altering my mindset through art, I might influence my physical state.
So, here’s a cartoon of my tongue:
And this is what's going on with the tastebuds:
While it's likely my immune system's response rather than the virus itself causing this weirdness, I'm focusing on combating the unseen adversary. I’m telling my immune system that
And hoping my tastebuds will be able to calm down and get back to whatever normal is these days.
Wish me (and my tastebuds) luck!
Thank you for being one of the good humans.
Alex
Yeah, it's going to be okay! =)
Luck! You have cute taste buds.