Valid Emotional Responses during a Pandemic

With the Covid 19 making its way to India, a lot of people are reacting in different ways. Some people are driving themselves to the state of paranoia regarding the spread of the virus and their personal safety while some people are living in their own bubbles of obliviousness practicing the art of 'ignorance is bliss.' These are polar opposite reactions to one phenomena. Can we say one is preventive while the other is reckless? Sure. But can we discount either of these reactions as invalid? Absolutely not.

There are some of us who have self-quarantined. Some who have been specifically asked by their organizations to work from home. We sit here, wondering what is in store in the future given the rate at which this virus is spreading and how unprepared we are as a country, how will we survive? In such a scenario, few of us seem to be feeling nothing. It's true. Amid all this humdrum, here we are, doing what we are supposed to, buying our supplies, washing our hands, checking up on loved ones and yet, we feel nothing. Guess what? That doesn't mean you are broken in some way, it just means that this is how you are choosing to respond and that too, is alright.

Common responses seen in the community

Needless to say, people are stressed. The perceived threat has led to people experiencing fear which is an emotional, psychological and a behavioral coping reaction. Even before one has been tested positive, you can see there is a lot of anxiety going around in anticipation of what is to come. Everyone is busy stockpiling supplies for "D-Day" and the public is suspicious of any poor soul who sneezes out of an allergic reaction, understandably so. Interestingly, there are also the segment of the population going on about their daily routines as though this virus cannot touch them, these are the special lot.

Some counterproductive responses to be wary of:

• While your concern for you and your family is completely justified, stockpiling supplies like sanitizers and face masks only means that for every extra piece you have lying around, there is someone out there exposing themselves to the virus. And if your luck is rotten and karma is real, that could find its way back to you.
• Additionally, people who have hoarded these products and are selling it for much higher prices are just doing so in bad taste. This is really not the time to think about profiting from a situation.
• Individuals who are in denial and are refusing to see the reality pose a great threat to society. Not just during the pandemic, in general too. You going to parties and brunches is just going to increase the likelihood of you getting infected.
• Reading conspiracy theories and spreading misinformation. Warning people beyond a point just scares them. Sharing/reading hundreds of WhatsApp forwards is just going to make you lose your sleep. The better alternative is to get your information and prevention methods from reliable sources like Government-issued statements and official websites.
• Travelling unless necessary is not recommended. You cannot escape a pandemic unless you move to a different planet.
• Isolating yourself and letting the anxiety get the best of you. This can feel uncontrollable and it is terrifying. However, spending your time at home eating healthy, doing light exercises, reading a good book or watching an old film can really help distract you from these dark thoughts. Use this time to connect with your family and friends (over video call if they are not around!)