The two-year loss-to-symptom syndrome

How does all this information relate to chronic illness?  A combination of all these processes   - 20-second dips, unconscious decisions, the RAS (Reticular Activating System) – creates a phenomenon called the ‘two year loss to symptom’ syndrome.

This syndrome refers to the widespread finding that in most chronic immune based diseases, there is a significant event involving loss about 18 months to two years before symptoms begin to develop.

This has been found in a wide range of chronic diseases, including cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, diabetes Type 1, inflammatory bowel disease and multiple sclerosis.

When you consider that there is usually a 20-second dip in brain waves during such loss events and that, thereafter, the thoughts that occurred during this dip continue to operate as a self-supporting unconscious belief because of the RAS, this phenomenon starts to make sense.
In most basic form, any event that leads to the formation of an unconscious belief that revolves around a sense of helplessness or woundedness will thereafter create a chronic increase in the activity of the HPAC (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal cortex) system, with continual release of hormones such as cortisol.  Similarly, the formation of an unconscious belief revolving around fight-or-flight cases a chronic stimulation of the SAM (sympathetic nervous adrenal medulle) system, and continual release of hormones such as adrenaline. 
But that is not all.  We are highly resourceful creatures – we learn to develop methods of coping and defence to keep our fears and perceived inadequacies contained and manageable.  These   mental – emotional defences require constant energy and attention, which are also stressful for the body.  They are explored in the next chapter.