According to the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy, defense is a “weapon, instrument or other thing with which someone defends themselves from danger.” Our body defends itself from emotions that can cause harm, but the key is knowing how to manage them.

The ability to be aware and identify what causes us stress becomes increasingly important every day. The positive dimension of mental health has been defined by the WHO as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

It is essential to understand that emotions are linked to the way our body responds when faced with an illness or virus. Doctor Clara Sandoval, a specialist in emotional management in children and young people, explains that “emotions originating in our brain generate substances that stimulate the glands and these in turn create hormones that go to our immune system, thus activating the body's defenses.”

One of the main causes of negative emotions is unfounded fears that have accompanied us for a long time without knowing it. It is not always necessary to consult a specialist, because to maintain emotional balance we can practice some activities that generate awareness when it comes to managing our feelings.

One of the most common diseases in the world today is stress. Maria Rosazza, a doctor and psychotherapist, points out that “Although being stressed will not make you sick, it does cause changes in your immune system.. For example, it is common that if you are stressed, some tissues in your body become inflamed and some cells, those related to the immune system, are affected. What is the result? If the body is attacked by a virus, the defenses will not be in ideal conditions to fight it.

Psychologist Laurie Santos, a professor of the course “Psychology and the Good Life” at Yale University, says that science “has shown that being happy requires intentional effort.” Therefore, We must take time for ourselves because if we are happy we are more likely to be healthy and avoid many headaches. Below, we leave you with some exercises recommended in Laurie Santos' course that will help you activate your positive emotions and increase your body's defenses during this period of isolation:

1. Gratitude list. Being grateful makes us aware of the good things that happen to us and how lucky we are to have people who look out for our well-being.

2. Sleep more and better. A good rest prepares us to carry out our daily activities, reduces depression and increases a positive attitude.

3. Meditate. When you do this, you share with yourself, your emotions are better channeled and you neutralize negative sensations.

4. Time with family and friends. We are social beings by nature. During the time of COVID-19, we can continue to be social through video calls, voice messages or phone calls. Isolating ourselves to protect ourselves does not mean forgetting those we love the most.

5. Less social media and more real connections. Everything in moderation. During quarantine, we can make excellent use of social media to stay close to our family and friends. Spending only a limited amount of time on social media will also help prevent information overload and thus avoid episodes of anxiety or stress.

All of the above will allow you to see that positive emotions and thoughts serve as protection for both our mind and our body. It is important to clarify that we should not demonize or avoid negative emotions, because they are also important when defending ourselves from external threats. For example, fear is a reaction we have to danger; sadness is a response we have to loss and helps us adapt to this new reality; rage or anger comes to light when someone offends or attacks us and we want to assert ourselves and respect ourselves.

Emotions are linked to our defenses and protection, the key is to know how to manage them so that they actually contribute. Let's not let our emotions, especially the negative ones, get out of control, because the balance of what we feel makes us happier and healthier. So try to smile as much as you can and you will be your own medicine. If you have time, you can watch the movie Inside Out and see how your emotions work.