Just as she was starting to feel overwhelmed, Emily's imagination took over. She pictured herself in a fantastical world, one where COVID didn't exist, and people could connect freely. In this world, she was on a quest to find a magical cure, one that would not only heal her but also bring people together.
This public link is valid for 7 days and shares a thread, including any personal information you added. This link or copies made by others cannot be deleted. If you share with third parties, their policies apply. Can’t copy the link right now. Try again later.
When you write at 4 AM with COVID, you aren't writing from your "self." You are writing from the fever self .
In the mid-20th century, poets like Sylvia Plath, Anne Sexton, and Robert Lowell pioneered "Confessional Poetry," a style that dealt with taboo subjects like mental illness, trauma, and physical suffering. The 4 AM COVID post is the modern, democratized evolution of this movement. i wrote this at 4am sick with covid link
Descriptions of the "metallic" taste of the virus or the hum of a humidifier.
This trend aligns with what researchers noticed during the peak of the lockdowns. Platforms like TikTok became repositories of raw, unpolished creativity. One user documented their "day in the life" during quarantine, noting that they "picked up new hobbies" and tried to "keep sane during this time of uncertainty". Meanwhile, poets like Yahia Lababidi described the global crisis as a "Fever Dream," writing that every bed is a "raft tossed at sea".
Announcing you had COVID-19 between 2020 and 2023 carried a specific weight. It meant mandatory isolation. It meant fear, physical exhaustion, and a sudden severance from physical human contact. Just as she was starting to feel overwhelmed,
At 4 AM, the human body is at its circadian nadir. Your core body temperature drops. Your cortisol levels—the hormone that keeps you alert—are at their lowest ebb. Your immune system, however, is often in overdrive, sending cytokines (inflammatory markers) to fight the invader.
: 4:00 AM is often described as the "dead of night"—a time when the world is silent and the mind, especially when distorted by fever or insomnia, feels disconnected from reality.
As I write this at 4am, sick with COVID, I'm reminded of the countless others who are going through similar experiences. The isolation, the fear, the uncertainty – it's a shared human experience that's both heartbreaking and unifying. This public link is valid for 7 days
With newfound determination, Emily closed her eyes and let her imagination run wild. She envisioned herself walking through lush forests, climbing steep mountains, and crossing rushing rivers. Along the way, she met fellow travelers who joined her on her quest.
Checking your "sent" folder or your feed at 10 AM after a 4 AM sick-post spree is a rite of passage. Usually, it's one of three things: Pure Nonsense: