Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Long-Term Effects of Chronic Fear
Increasingly, I’ve been alarmed at the number of people in my own circle who wear their symbols of fear: the mask. They are all smart women, rational under most life circumstances, but refuse to let go of wearing their masks. It is like a comfort blanket, even an amulet, that will protect them from the evil forces of COVID. No matter how much information they receive on the minimal protection that masks provide, they persist. My biggest concern is that these people are living in a hyper condition of fear, and they don’t even recognize it. It’s also interesting that they will sacrifice wearing their masks in certain circumstances. I wanted to explore whether prolonging the donning of masks, which could be practiced for the foreseeable future, might have a permanent negative effect on their well-being. The news does not suggest a bright future.
I’d like to talk about the reasons of some of these folks for wearing their masks and where they wear them: any place of business, whether required or not; shopping early in the day at grocery stores to avoid crowds; doctors’ offices, where masks are standard requirements, even here in Florida; churches for some, including the avoiding of contact with other people; and any other public business where other people might congregate. The alienation they must experience appears to be secondary to protecting themselves. Missed smiles and muffled speaking can be forgiven for the greater good.
All of them are willing to admit that they are afraid, so they must act “responsibly.” Even though they have all been jabbed three times, and if they catch the latest variant, omicron, they will likely have a mild case. Even though they have heard that it will be similar to the flu and that it will be endemic, they wear the mask. Even though some of them know the government “experts” have been discredited, they persist.
The exceptions that two of them have made is flying on planes, which actually do have pretty good air circulation. “But what if someone sitting right next to you is sick?” I didn’t ask. They have chosen to fly because there were people they wanted/needed to see, and that made the trips worth the risk.
With masks.
So why do I care?
Part of my concern has to do with the long-term effects of chronic fear:
-
Immune system dysfunction.
-
Endocrine system dysfunction.
-
Autonomic nervous system alterations.
-
Sleep/wake cycle disruption.
-
Eating disorders.
-
Alterations in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis.
People don’t realize that living in a protracted state of fear causes extended stress:
-
Anxiety.
-
Depression.
-
Digestive problems.
-
Headaches.
-
Muscle tension and pain.
-
Heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure, and stroke.
-
Sleep problems.
-
Weight gain.
-
Memory and concentration impairment.
Social distancing, which often occurs as part of the intention to avoid infection, can also have negative consequences:
I was surprised by the stressful impact of social distancing on people’s psychological well-being. We belong to a social species of primates with a strong need for physical contact. The new technologies (e.g., video chat software, social media groups) helped reduce the stress of the lockdown but they are not ‘the real thing.’ As a clinical psychiatrist, I saw people reporting depressive and anxiety symptoms caused by the lack of physical contact with relatives and friends, even if other forms of social interactions were still possible.
What most alarms me is that living in fear will seem normal. The stress, the chemical reactions in their bodies, will be familiar, and if a time were to come when they could consider abandoning masks and isolation, they may very well be reluctant. People will have forgotten what it feels like to live without fear, and the emotions, physical responses, and decisions they choose to live safely will be governed by fear. Trying to return to a “normal life” (pre-COVID) may seem too difficult to do.
I understand that these people can make their own decisions about how to live their lives. It’s really not my business, so it’s up to me to deal with my own frustration about their choices. But I feel pretty certain that we can only speculate about the long-term effects on people.
- Some people may associate living a safe life not just with mask wearing but with isolating themselves. All of us, no matter how introverted we are, are social creatures. If they choose to live their lives separated from the rest of society, I can’t help but wonder about what the results might be.
- Instead of experiencing the joy of being with friends or loved ones, those times might seem uncomfortable with enough periods of isolation. That outcome doesn’t just mean that they are deprived of those spirit-lifting occasions, but so will be others in their lives.
- They will turn more and more often to technology to entertain themselves, to have thoughtful conversations, to “be together.” Human physical contact will be rare and, when pursued, unexpected and uncomfortable.
So here are my questions for you:
Do you agree with my concerns?
Do you see long-term consequences for society?
Published in Healthcare
Very interesting. That’s helpful information. And I can’t disagree with your comment either, Vince. In some ways I am part of the problem.
Thank you allowing those of us who wish to have mask study citations to have them.
I noticed this on “rumble” when visiting that site over the weekend:
https://rumble.com/vrppwa-over-150-studies-find-that-wearing-masks-makes-no-difference-stopping-the-s.html
Of course. The absurdity of wearing masks is central to my point. Thanks for the additional link, CarolJoy.
Excellent post. I was at a work lunch meeting today where I didn’t eat (food allergies and there wasn’t anything I could eat). While everyone who was eating obviously had their masks off, anyone who wasn’t eating had to keep theirs on. I’m about done with this madness. As they say, I want off this ride.
So do I, Laura. So do I. Thanks for the kind words.
I am curious but will never be able to determine if the significant rise in my blood pressure in the last two years is related to constant Covid-related changes, to weight gain (which is due to either Covid-related sedentariness or to new retiree related sedentariness), or just to the normal aging-related higher blood pressure.