"There is some evidence that inflammation via cytokines affect the brain.
There are also findings of improvements in reduction of cytokine levels
by SSRI anti- anxiety drugs in the medical literature. I have wondered
how chronic occult systemic inflammation affects the nervous system."

and

"Yes! ... I believe stress --- the immune system --- and inflammation are all interconnected somehow. I haven't figured out how these things interact but I am convinced cortisol levels have something to do with it. Cortisol is called the "stress hormone" for some reason. However, I'm not sure how everything plays out so as to trigger flares of PMR and other autoimmune disorders."

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I had seen history of abuse or trauma listed as risk factors for diseases in the past. It never made sense to me then but it does now. Stress raises your cortisol level. Your body is trying to fight what is causing the stress but there is no bacteria or virus. It obviously can't fight the external trauma/stressor so it ends of attacking itself. This is my very simplified version that makes sense to me. I don't know if it will pass muster with the docs. 🙂