Due to the unprecedented amount of negative focus on a SARS-Cov-2 virus over the last two years, psychiatry now has it’s newest phobia label for patients : Coronaphobia. It is classified as a phobia because it has all three essential components of a fear response within the body: physiological, cognitive and behavioural changes. Physiological changes occur because it creates aspects of the flight/fight response such as an increased heart rate, induced sweating and changes breathing patterns. Cognitive changes are induced where there is a preoccupation with thoughts of the virus and pandemic. Behavioural changes as a result of the pandemic include avoiding certain social situations and people, not leaving the house and altering behaviour in regard to regular activities.1
Studies have shown that the fear and altered behaviour varies depending on the perceived fear of the individual or group. Media over reporting “bad news” such as hospitalizations and deaths from “covid” have a major role in promoting coronaphobia. When people perceived the situation was out of control, the fear ramped up but once the vaccines were created and administered the fear ramped down. Reporting of people suffering mild symptoms, particularly in regard to the Omicron variant, had people becoming less fearful, but then the media increased the fear factor by reporting on the lack of testing availability.
Is this fear rational
For people who are vaccinated, it’s hard to determine the basis of their fear because, if vaccinated (which by all reports almost 90% of Australians are), the overwhelming majority of people suffer mild cold or flu symptoms. I mean, Australians aged under the age of 80 years are more likely to die in a car accident3 than from covid4 but there is not the same focus on driving cars on the road. If you want to find out more about how coronaphobia and the manifestation of this fear, read Understanding Coronaphobia. There does seem to be an abnormal amount of interest/obsession over this virus, particularly hospitalisation and death rates.
Perhaps the fear of the unknown could be part of the issue because the goal posts always see to be changing. At first the government asked people to get vaccinated to protect themselves and the community. The media jumped on this bandwagon and featured all types of experts who explained that being vaccinated would stop you from contracting and from spreading the virus to others. The good people of Australia put their trust in the government and the media and jumped on board. We all rushed out to get vaccinated to “do the right thing” to protect ourselves and the community (particularly vulnerable people) and for a while things seemed to be under control and there was almost a sense of getting “back to normal”. That was, until Omicron hit our shores. With the high rate of vaccination and high incidence of positive cases, we quickly found out the vaccine neither stops people from getting or from spreading the virus. As cases increased at a rapid rate, people came out in droves to be tested and the mania spread further when the ability to get tested was hampered by a lack of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATS) and testing facilities. The inability to actually even get tested shouldn’t create a sense of fear, but it is likely based on a fear of the unknown and the inability to take control. This lack of control on an individual and collective basis has created an irrational focus on the virus and anything to do with it.
Now that we have some understanding of this condition called Coronaphobia, it is time everyone (and by everyone I mean the government agencies, the media and individuals) got onboard to reduce the contagion. We have the ability to start bringing some power and control back to individuals. We need to remind everyone to focus on what we can control, and stop thinking about things that are not in our circle of influence. In fact, after the last 24 months of doom and gloom, I believe the media has an obligation to turn the tide: stop fear mongering and start promoting a sense of hope. Here is a list of things that we can do NOW:
- Resist the click bate
When you see a report on the “covid numbers” scroll on by. Ask yourself “how can knowing that number help me today?” and if it can’t move on. By not responding, you are telling the data analysts, that that information is not important to you and it will come up less and less. - Stop watching the news
Constantly watching the reports on increasing numbers and every other detail around Co-vid19 does not add value to our day. If you must get one report daily and spend the rest of your time focusing on the positive things in your life. - Be a shining example within your community. Post a positive story, a funny meme or a quote that focuses on lifting up rather than dragging down others.
Rather than becoming obsessed and falling to the newest psychiatric condition – Coronaphobia – it’s time to rise up and start looking at what is positive about your life and environment. I know this is not as easy as it sounds, but if we all take small steps and work together we can get through it. Just like with any other mental illness, it takes a community to help support those who are suffering. Go out of your way to change the subject when someone in your environment seems to be overly focused on the virus. Uplift and support each other so we can help raise the energy and vibe. Stay tuned for further information how you can build physical strength and resistance to the virus, this is going to be my focus over the next few weeks.