About Amy & Positively COVID
You are not alone!
I am Amy. Years ago, when I embarked on an exploration of meditation and brain health, I committed to helping people find their source of happiness. Little did I know, the focus of my purpose would abruptly gain clarity, when I got COVID.
After being diagnosed with COVID in November 2020, I experienced more than 18 concerning symptoms, both physical and psychological, all crammed together, all at once. It was overwhelming and exhausting.
My husband and I immediately sought hopeful information and stories, but what we found wasn’t very hopeful. In fact, it was grim and terrifying, and rightfully so. I don’t want to minimize the severity of this horrific virus, but I worry that if one isn’t able to access encouraging studies and tools to recover from COVID, the repercussions may be dire.
That’s why I started Positively COVID, this online resource for optimistic information, hopeful stories, mental health resources, and guidance for COVID recovery. I want to encourage positive outreach, raise awareness and reduce stigma.
If you’ve found Positively COVID, it’s probably because you’re looking for guidance. It’s also possible that you dodged the virus but found this site because you’re seeking information for a friend or family member.
We want you to stay informed, but we also want to help you sift through all the information and find the gems that give you what you need to fight this virus and restore your health or help a loved one with COVID.
We’ll share how to get through your days and nights, how to rest, what to eat, how to move your body again and how to stay hopeful when you feel hopeless.
I’ll be an open book; sharing my experience, offering checklists of what you’ll need, steps to take, and the tools I use, with the goal of helping you get through each difficult moment. I look forward to sharing with you the things that brought me hope, especially the promising science on the adaptability of the human brain to heal after trauma. We must not underestimate the brain’s ability to change itself through positive thinking. Through love, laughter, and a commitment to turn toward hope, we will get through this.
I also look forward to hearing your recovery stories, and I can’t wait to see what this conversation unveils.
We aren’t long-haulers, we are Strong-Haulers! Together, with our families and friends, we’re creating meaningful dialogue and making history.
So, welcome to Positively COVID, your positive source for COVID recovery. You are not alone. We will get through this.
As my Dad says, “Nothing so bad that some good doesn’t come of it.” Here we go!
Warmly,
Amy Engkjer
Medical Advisors
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Dr. Howard Schubiner
Dr. Howard Schubiner is one of the leading voices in the mind-body world and is a strong advocate for and practitioner of mind-body methods for healing chronic pain, migraines, and other chronic health issues. He received his MD from Wayne State University and completed residencies in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics; the Howard Schubiner Award given by the NMPRA to a resident in recognition for excellence in clinical care is named in his honor. He is a Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.
Dr. Schubiner is the author of three books: Unlearn Your Pain, Unlearn Your Anxiety and Depression, and Hidden From View, which was co-written with Allan Abbass, MD, a Professor of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was featured in the film This Might Hurt, which follows three chronic pain patients through their journey to healing. He has also authored more than 100 publications in scientific journals and books, and he lectures regionally, nationally, and internationally. Dr. Schubiner lives in the Detroit area with his wife, Val, and has two adult children.
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Dr. Silje Endresen Reme
Dr. Reme is a professor of health psychology at the University of Oslo, and a clinical pain psychologist at Oslo University Hospital. She completed her educational and doctoral studies at the University of Bergen, followed by a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University.
She currently leads the Mind-Body Lab Oslo, where her research focuses on chronic pain treatment, chronic post-surgical pain prevention, chronic fatigue, stress, and work disability. Through her research and clinical work, Dr. Reme is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals who are living with chronic health conditions and disabilities.
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Dr. Paul Garner
Paul Garner is a British epidemiologist and public health professional, known for his work in systematic reviews and evidence-informed policy. He is currently an Emeritus Professor, Evidence Synthesis in Global Health, at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Previously he was a member of the WHO malaria treatment guidelines group from 2004-18.
Drawing from personal experience with long COVID, Dr. Garner has worked to highlight the occurrence of Long COVID and health concerns related to it. He advocated that the involvement of communities of people who have recovered from post-viral illnesses would be helpful in management and treatment approaches. Over time, Garner rejected the notion of a purely biomedical cause of his own post-COVID illness and attributed his full recovery to psychological training including techniques of meditation and visualization.
Help us spread Positivity.
Your contribution can help someone else complete their journey to overcome Long COVID.
Positively COVID is a registered 501(c)(3) organization.