In the period of three months after the death of a spouse, widows and widowers are more likely to manifest risk factors related to cardiovascular disease and death, suggests A study published in Psychoneuroendocrinology, showing higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (immune markers that indicate inflammation in the bloodstream) and lower heart rate variability (HRV).
Wanda's story in the Disney + Wandavision series (Scarlet Witch and Vision) is traumatic, painful and tragic. The first episodes show Wanda and Vision (played respectively by Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany) as a happily married couple living like in an old sitcom from the 50s, then 60s, then 70s. Westview seems like the refuge for that pain.
Westview and your distorted reality
When a person has lost a partner or spouse, they are most commonly living in an 'altered reality'. The people we love, especially our partners and/or spouses, they give meaning to our world. They connect us with our reality. They help us anchor ourselves and are part of our role and identity.
During grief, then, the world can seem like a strange and terrifying place, in which one feels the need to control everything around them, to protect themselves. Have a sense of control over everything that is out of control. Sometimes, then, we need to put ourselves in a protective bubble, like an oxygen tank. In the case of Wandavision it is Westview.
This happens because, after the death of the loved one, both tangible and intangible losses occur, such as loss of home, loss of identity, loss of sense of security, loss of companionship, loss of customs and habits, loss of trust, loss of family role, loss of financial security, loss of purpose, loss of trust, loss of intimacy, as well as the loss of future hopes and dreams.
In some cases, grief can be complicated or pathological, as it deeply interferes with our abilities to face life and adapt to it, as suggested by This studio. Reasons for this may include the type of repeated losses that Wanda's character experiences. People experiencing maladaptive grief may show continuous pain, anger, anguish, sadness, bitterness, destructive to themselves or others, or efforts to escape from responsibilities or others.
Wanda teaches us that we can be powerful and fragile. It takes strength to fight to survive the deep pain of grief.. Therefore, as already happens in the movie Pleasantville (1998), if we have a special power, that power may also be oriented towards escape from reality in a much more tangible way. In this case, taking refuge in an Arcadian past where everything seemed simpler. Where, in addition, there were still the canned laughter that accompanied the characters in all their situations.
The canned laughterTherefore, they are like a happiness spell, as you can see in the following video, which also explains who invented them, as well as other methods to laugh more, be happier and, ultimately, be less alone in the world. universe:
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What 'Wandavisión' teaches us about how to deal with the death of a loved one: it can be so painful that you can get sick
was originally published in
Xataka Science
by
Sergio Parra
.
