It’s October, which means only one thing: flu season is well and truly upon us. Offices are filled with sniffles and our daily commutes are spent dodging coughs from strangers. But when the inevitable cold does strike us down, we all have our own failsafe methods of recovering.

For some, there’s nothing better than a duvet day spent chugging down a Lucozade. For others, a slow walk in the brisk fresh air is enough to clear the cobwebs and hopefully shock their immune system back into some kind of working order. For me, however, recovering from illness is all about indulging my childlike cravings.

On a recent sick day – my first in years – I watched Hercules, a childhood favourite film and ate canned tomato soup (Heinz, always) while curled in the foetal position on my sofa. Instead of my usual more sophisticated palate, I craved milkshakes, chocolate buttons and sugary soft drinks. It made me feel like I was six again, begging my mum to keep me off school so that I could watch cartoons and eat porridge from bed. As it turns out, I’m not the only one who regresses to a childlike state when they’re ill. 

“The minute I feel myself getting a bug, it’s a dinner of warming minestrone soup or chicken nuggets and potato smiley faces,” admits Stylist’s digital writer Shahed Ezaydi. “It’s delicious but more importantly, it’s easy to make. I also call my mum multiple times a day to tell her how bad I’m feeling.”

For Strong Women editor Miranda Larbi, a sick day involves “watching all my comfort shows (Peep Show is number one) and calling my dad for sympathy and advice”.

Clearly, even as adults we crave the comforts of childhood when we’re sick. But why do we do it?

“When we’re ill, we often revert back to what feels comforting, holding and nurturing,” explains Hannah Abrahams, a chartered psychologist at The Soke. “There’s a desire to fulfil basic needs: to feel protected and warm.”

There’s of course an element of nostalgia, too. Research has shown that reminiscing about happy memories can lead to a temporary increase in positive emotions, helping to improve our mood and overall sense of wellbeing. 

“These foods and activities can take us back psychologically to those times when we felt safe and connected,” agrees Baker. Our senses, including smell and taste, are key in awakening past memories, which explains why we may reach for a steaming bowl of chicken soup or bag of Quavers when we’re filled with cold. According to Baker, these nostalgic practices naturally act as a metaphorical comfort blanket, wrapping us in the warmth and the love that our inner child seeks.

When we do get ill, or even just a bit sad, it’s important that we don’t just soldier on like nothing has happened. Embrace rest and relaxation, whether that’s with plenty of sleep and a healthy, hearty meal or something more juvenile. As for me? I’ll be curled up with my can of Coke, eating my child dinner in peace. 

Images: Getty