It’s 8 AM in the Blue Room. You’re clutching an iced coffee for breakfast, embracing your new identity as a zombie product of the insomnia apocalypse, suffering in the liminal space of too-awake-to-sleep and too-asleep-to-be-productive.
At this point of complete helplessness, some may try to go soul searching. Who am I? What have I been put on this Earth to do? Shouldn’t I really be doing some readings or problem sets or job applications right now instead of mindlessly refreshing my GCal?
But recent science shows that your consciousness might not entirely be your own.
“According to gut-brain psychology, the gut microbiota is a crucial part of the gut-brain network, and it communicates with the brain via the microbiota–gut–brain axis” (Liang et al., 2018)
Are you feeling the sads? Blame the Worm!
Feeling particularly burnt out? Blame the Worm!
Feeling the stomach funnies? Blame the Worm! (or the Blue Room coffee)
More studies are to come on how to control the Worm, but hopefully the knowledge of its existence and your subjugation to it helps you navigate these psychologically difficult times. As a trusted scientific resource, we here at The Rib will keep you posted.
