Pandemic or Fear of the Pandemic: Which is the Lesser Evil?

Over the last few months, we’ve become hyperaware of our bodies and the symptoms associated with COVID-19. In fact, this pandemic is the closest that many people will come to understanding what it means to be a hypochondriac.

The coronavirus has spread rapidly across the world in the space of several months, but this is not the only thing that’s been spreading.

Ever since COVID-19 became public knowledge, there’s been a stark realization that illness can’t always be brushed aside. Those who have never been seriously ill are frightened that this isn’t a virus they can necessarily push through with the right medication.

The unknown is at the core of this pandemic and with the unknown comes a natural, inbred fear.

COVID-19 and the Unknown

Now that we understand more about the coronavirus, we know what symptoms to look out for. Unfortunately, there are many people who are asymptomatic altogether. What’s more, many people are discovering underlying health conditions for the first time due to the severity of their coronavirus symptoms.

In essence, as much as we understand about COVID-19, there is still a lot that’s unknown and it’s this uncertainty that’s instilling fear.

We’re faced with information and news about this pandemic daily, which means people are far more focused on slight feelings of discomfort and illness that they would usually brush aside.

It’s also only natural for this hyper-focus on our pending mortality and the unpredictability around it to cause us to fall into fear. Fear of losing our lives, fear of leaving behind the ones we love, fear of losing our homes and careers, fear of getting others sick – for many people, their psyches have never experienced this level of fear.

The Fear Pandemic

How often have you feared something, only for it not to happen or be far less severe than you thought it would be? Consider how you felt during these moments. The ongoing panic and anxiety have a severe effect on your mental state, as well as your quality of life.

Is it possible that the fear of contracting COVID and the effects it would have on our lives could be more harmful than the virus itself?

A study by the Neuroscience Education Institute highlights some of the long-term effects of fear and stress on the body and brain. After a prolonged period of living in a state of fear and anxiety, the immune system is weakened, and sleep cycles are disrupted. In terms of mental health, phobias and eating disorders can develop and people can start to disassociate from themselves.

What happens if you do contract COVID-19 though? Chances are, if you are healthy and don’t have any underlying conditions, the symptoms are going to be far less distressing than you’re imagining. The reality of what the healthy average person experiences is far removed from what most people are picturing.

The fear of the unknown is at the heart of this pandemic. It’s natural to be afraid of getting sick, but more often than not, it’s not knowing what happens when we do that makes things far worse.

Finding Normality During a Pandemic

What is apparent is that we need to quell our fears if we want to navigate this pandemic as safely and calmly as possible. We need to understand that the fear of getting sick is probably much worse than the actual virus.

On the plus side, this pandemic is making people more aware of the importance of mental health, something that will have a positive long-term impact on society.

So, how do you stop yourself from getting wrapped up in a fear pandemic?

It starts with focusing on controlling what you can control – this will be key in facing our fears in a healthy way until we know where coronavirus will lead us. Finding out more about any underlying health conditions you might have, understanding how to stay safe, and taking a break from the media are all aspects that are in your control.

One of the effects of prolonged periods of stress and fear is a desire to isolate. Having governments implement forced isolation and the new ‘online’ everything trend also doesn’t help. However, it’s never been more important to stay connected to friends and loved ones. Focusing on the stable support systems that you currently have in place can also automatically make life less stressful.

Once you start opening up to people you trust, you will discover just how many people are feeling exactly the same way you are. This alone can make navigating difficult emotions and unpredictability that much easier.

Lastly, realise that uncertainty has always been a part of life. Unfortunately, the feelings associated with uncertainty have been heightened due to the mass panic and fear surrounding COVID-19. Leaning into the fact that nothing has ever been certain can help put the pandemic into perspective.

Fear can become a deadly virus if we let it get out of control. Small doses of fear are healthy, but we need to be aware of when we are crossing that fine line between surviving and letting fear affect our health.

Creating a new normal as we move through an uncertain time is possible – we are in this together after all.