An article in the Guardian a couple of weeks ago refuted completely the idea of electrosensitivity as an allergic reaction to electromagnetic radiation from, for example, wireless devices.  The authors claimed that such reported physiological reactions to technology are no more than the nocebo effect, that meaning that if you worry enough about something and believe it is harming you, then it surely will cause physical symptoms of distress and ill health.  Mind, it was written by a couple of psychologists.  I would not necessarily have expected them to have an unbiased opinion.  And quite possibly they were being paid by some telecommunication company for their view.

Perhaps they would like to explain how come I had a full set of typical EHS symptoms, beginning in 2011, a whole 2 years before I had even heard of the syndrome and with no concerns about modern technology because I had no idea that there was anything to potentially be feared.

Symptoms like:- my left lower leg (and sometimes my whole body)periodically vibrating; an odd disruption to sleep, manifesting as getting off to sleep easily but waking with a jolt after 10 – 15 minutes, often 2 or 3 times consecutively; feelings of intense physical panic but alongside a calm and relaxed mental disposition (take it from me, that is very peculiar!); getting stroppy whilst out and about when I’m actually having a nice time and enjoying myself! I’d like to know how Messrs Psychologists can explain these symptoms by the nocebo effect. By the way, I am a Psychology graduate with a Masters degree in Mental Health, so I also know about these things.

The onset of the above symptoms, and a few more, was likely related to an MRI scan I had in 2010, working at a desk with my left leg just inches from the CPU of my computer since 2008, and living on top of hills since 2001 and continually being zapped by the local airport radar. Perhaps Messrs Psychologists can explain how they are not.

So life is a challenge now, living with EHS – alongside my very sound mind. I still manage to go to work but mainly because most of the equipment I use is wired in. I can last about an hour in a coffee shop which hampers my keeping in touch with friends. I have to sleep with screening material over and around my bed (thank goodness someone invented this as I can now have a good night’s sleep – much improved over the one hour or so a night it had deteriorated to). Shopping trips are short or online (only in the morning though as I can no longer use my laptop in the evening without adversely affecting my sleep). Changing the car was interestingly problematic and buying another house in a ‘clean environment’ is proving next to impossible.

I am not worried about any of this stuff though. I do get a bit peed off that some aspects of my life are marred by an inability to engage with something without feeling unwell but overall I love life and get a massive amount of enjoyment from it, fortunate that my hobbies and interests tend to be solitary and far from the madding crowd anyway.  But there are days when I just can’t face going out.

Messrs Psychologists need to get real and face up to the fact that modern technology is having a profound effect on our health and will continue to do so unless we take some action. And while they are at it, check out the video footage of the aphids jumping in time with pulsed radiation from a radar – in a nocebo kind of way…..…