Xevi Verdaguer, psychoneuroimmunologist: "It's normal that if you don't sleep enough, you feel like isolating yourself and not wanting to meet people."

Do you feel tired, dull, and lacking in the desire to socialize? If so, you might be surprised to learn that your body could be trying to protect you. Renowned psychoneuroimmunologist Xevi Verdaguer recently revealed on social media how inflammation, often linked to lack of sleep, chronic stress, or altered gut flora, may be behind this desire for isolation and apathy.

In a recent post that has captured the attention of thousands of followers, Verdaguer has broken with the idea that feeling "lack of energy" or "depressed" is simply a matter of attitude or an isolated symptom of modern life. According to the expert, there is an intricate connection between our immune system, the state of our gut microbiota, and our emotions and behaviors. "It's normal that if you sleep little or have dysbiosis or a pathogen, you feel like socially isolating yourself, you don't feel like meeting people," Verdaguer says in the video.

The key to this phenomenon lies in inflammation . When our body is inflamed, whether due to poor sleep, prolonged stress, or an imbalance in the bacteria in our gut (dysbiosis), the body activates defense mechanisms that, surprisingly, include changes in our behavior. The main goal is to keep us safe. It's as if the body sends a "temporary closure for construction" signal so it can focus on recovery.

Verdaguer explains in the video that inflammation can lead us to seek isolation: "Turn down the volume of the radio or the television and be alone, calm." This behavior isn't a whim, but a physiological response designed to conserve energy and facilitate healing. We can even adopt attitudes that guarantee this solitude. "And you're going to behave around other people in a way that ensures they'll leave you alone. You might get too angry and end up alone," he emphasizes.

Interestingly, this tendency toward widespread isolation has one exception. In times of illness, when inflammation is more pronounced, our need for closeness with people in our trusted circle intensifies. "But it's interesting that with loved ones who may have been part of your trusted circle, who could be your caregivers, when you're sick and have a pathogen, you'll feel more attachment, more affection, and you'll need to have them closer," Verdaguer points out.

The influence of inflammation isn't limited to mood and the desire for isolation. Verdaguer also connects these processes to "brain fog," persistent tiredness, and drowsiness. And in a world where the pace of life often pushes us to the limit, it's easy to attribute these symptoms solely to stress or lack of rest. However, the expert insists that underlying inflammation plays a crucial role. "Anyone can experience brain fog, be tired, sleepy, and have altered behavior when we all suffer from inflammation," he warns.