Anxiety and Covid-19
Another victim of this disease is society’s mental health
Well that escalated quickly! Just as we thought Covid-19 was leveling off, we’re hit with the news that a second more serious wave is on the horizon. “Apocalyptic” Warnings from infectious disease experts are being issued for states like Florida, California, and Texas. Reasonably, all of this commotion creates fear and anxiety. After all, this deadly disease impacts earth’s global community, and each and every citizen has the responsibility to protect themselves from infection and the risks associated with exposure. Nearly ten million cases have been reported globally according to a Bing search detailing global cases of the coronavirus.
I’m torn, I can’t tell what’s more troubling… the fact that Covid-19 will infect, sicken, or kill countless people over a period of time that we can’t foretell, or the fact that we’ll be living in perpetual fear in anticipation of it. Mental health experts deal regularly with patients who suffer from P.T.S.D. a form of long term stress caused by an inciting incident that shapes a person’s reaction to events associated with traumatic events. The longer a person is exposed to stress and traumatic events, the greater the impact the event has on mental and emotional health.
In my neck of the woods (I live in Germany) there was a recent outbreak of Covid-19 in a meat packing plant. Thousands of people were infected and schools in the surrounding area were shut down. Just as Germans were trying to adjust to the “new normal” a spike in the infection rate created a greater sense of fear. Now the German government may take further steps to quarantine the country or implement other restrictions. We’re back at square one like months ago, but this time it’s supposed to be worse. The prolonged emotional and mental stress of the disease has a dire impact in our lives. I began to question if I should eat meat, as the virus broke out in one of the biggest meat packing plants in our area. This fear was irrational, but one that popped into my head as a reaction to the news of the plant’s status and my fear of catching Covid-19. Most of us are dealing with thoughts like these; a constant state of heightened fear that creates paranoia and impacts our thoughts, reactions, and behavior.
Society at large should be reminded of the impermanent nature of outbreaks. Even though Covid-19 is deadly, being gripped with fear doesn’t aid in understanding, detecting, or mitigating the disease. As an antidote to chaos, we need to monitor our mental health. This is especially important for those diagnosed with depression or other mental health disorders. In any case, our emotions can get the best of us during these trying times, so it’s better to find positive ways to disperse the negativity that all of us have. As a side note, I’ll mention another fear that crept into my mind that was uncommon. I had the thought that someone could use the mask to disguise themselves to commit a crime against me or my family. I wouldn’t be able to identify them really well, so we’d just be victims. I began looking at certain people suspiciously, which was wrong on my part. Instead of imagining potential negative scenarios like I did, try these three ideas.
- Try to image smiles underneath the masks of people as they walk by or go shopping.
- Take a nice walk with your family through a park or nature area.
- Try new recipes that you’ve never eaten before.
The Covid-19 situation, however stressful, is not a permanent situation. Before we commit to stock-piling food in our pantries we should breath a sigh of relief that things will get better in the near future. Society is gripped by a traumatic event that has the potential to shape our thoughts, reactions, and behavior well into the future. It’s up to us to find a steady space, a balance between concern and courage. Try the three steps and keep in mind that the best days are ahead of us and not behind us.
