The Latest Pandemic: Coronophobia

 

The experience of fear can be both devastating and life-saving; its intensity can range from mild anxiety to blinding dread. And all possible levels of fear are being experienced as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Was this fearful reaction unavoidable? After all, early reports of the virus were frightening, with its mysterious spread and virulent effect, particularly on the elderly. In spite of the experts who were unwilling to admit they simply didn’t know what to expect, they reacted by initiating extreme rules and mandates. People were afraid to leave their homes, unwilling to mingle with other people and do some of the most basic errands that had become central to their lives.

Because they were afraid to die. And for many, the fear still dominates their lives.

Dr. Marc Siegel, who is a Clinical Professor of Medicine and a practicing internist at NYU Langone Medical Center, as well as a contributor for Fox News, shared the following about the nature of fear:

I have been studying the massive controlling impact of fear commands on the human brain for many years. When you experience fear, your brain’s amygdala signals the release of powerful stress hormones (fight or flight) which links to a deeply engrained fear memory system. A cycle of fear, once activated, is very hard to break.

Dr. Siegel validates the public’s initial reaction to the pandemic, but also points out the exaggerations that have been promoted:

In fact, throughout the pandemic fear of going maskless has been exaggerated and manipulated by politicians and the media. Though masks clearly have been shown to have a value in preventing spread of this aerosolized airborne virus especially in close quarters, the obsessive focus on masks has led to fear-driven masks of obedience, even though they have often been worn improperly. And now that even the overly cautious CDC has acknowledged that you don’t need to wear a mask in most instances once you have been vaccinated, nevertheless, fears of relinquishing masks persist, and many people describe removing them as feeling ‘naked.’

Even for those who know rationally that Dr. Siegel’s observations are true, many people simply can’t release or work through the crippling fear that has damaged their psyches.

Unfortunately, many people are at a loss about how to move forward in their lives. As a result of this prevalent fear, a new psychological term has entered the lexicon–coronaphobia:

After analyzing nearly 500 studies that addressed the alarm and panic people were feeling during the pandemic, researchers defined coronaphobia as ‘an excessive triggered response of fear of contracting the virus causing COVID-19, leading to accompanied excessive concern over physiological symptoms, significant stress about personal and occupational loss, increased reassurance and safety seeking behaviors, and avoidance of public places and situations, causing marked impairment in daily life functioning.’

Many of us will roll our eyes and grumble about another “flavor-of-the-day” definition that will be used as an excuse for people to refuse to get on with our lives. But for those of us who have lived through periods of great fear, or feel trapped in the anxiety of the coronavirus, it’s no joking matter.

Certainly, there are parts of the population who are experiencing only a low-level anxiety, as a result of keeping up-to-date on the most reliable data, have received their vaccinations, and have returned to a relatively normal life. Others, however, may feel that their fear has elevated to the point where their lives are seriously limited and difficult to manage. Lily Brown, Ph.D., director of the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety at the University of Pennsylvania, explained extreme anxiety in this way:

Oftentimes, what happens when people have anxiety disorders is their anxiety starts to spill over so that it increasingly becomes more and more challenging to follow through on their obligations and get their needs met.’

Again, most people are feeling anxiety during the pandemic. But if you start noticing that you’re having a hard time meeting your commitments or completing must-do tasks because you’re panicked about catching the virus (or worried that loved ones will get sick), these might be indications that you have coronaphobia—and professional support to help in manage the anxiety could be effective.

*     *     *

For several reasons, I’ve found that, although I was very worried early on, I wasn’t overly frightened about the virus. At 71, I had some concerns and took precautions until I could receive my vaccination. Now I’m in the process of living life as fully as I can.

But I have a number of concerns about those people who are letting their fear dominate their lives. First, they are imposing their fears on others, making demands, and voicing expectations that they hope will alleviate their own concerns; the likelihood is, they will not feel less fearful and may temporarily feel empowered by attacking others. In particular, mask-wearing has become the cudgel of choice. Whether people have had their vaccinations or not, whether they have been told of the very small possibility that their children may catch the virus, whether the effectiveness of the vaccine on variants has been explained to them—they remain captive to their fear and a rational approach to reassuring them is likely not to work.

In addition, many of those who may be overtaken by their fear are in powerful positions, such as governors, state administrators, and even high-level government bureaucrats; they have rationalized their demands for their constituencies; whether they are determined to impose requirements to demonstrate their power, or whether they can’t get past their own fear, they are terrorizing parts of our population and enraging others.

*     *     *

Somehow, we have to find a way to get past these debilitating fears that are rampant in our country. We have legitimate, serious problems that we must fight and we can’t expend our energy on meaningless rules and futile practices. Those people, whether our neighbors, colleagues, and friends, who insist on accommodating their fear instead of finding a way to work through it, have the potential for creating even more emotional chaos at every level of society. How will the severe limitations that these folks put on their own lives affect the country as a whole? Will they go back to their jobs? Will they raise children who are overly fearful? Will they isolate themselves in order to feel safe? And what about our leaders who believe that their fears are legitimate, or behave as if they do?

I’m at a loss on how we can move forward. Do we simply hope that people overcome or work through their fear? Is there anything else we can do? What do you think?

[The photo is by Melanie Wasser at unsplash.com.]

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  1. I Walton Member
    I Walton
    @IWalton

     I think President Trump made a major mistake  to avoid election loss and had it stolen anyway.    The Federal role was to communicate, urge, accelerate vaccines development by removing accumulated barriers to quick discovery, which he did, but the appearance was that the Feds were in charge and leading the shut down.   He gave the platform to an overpaid idiot Democrat  MD.   People would have worn masks, separated, been cautious  anyway because it was unknown and scary and more  states would have successfully ignored the unnecessary shut down.   He allowed the Democrats to drive the PR response, which was media driven as usual and it served their interests.   Simple rule we should have relearned a long time ago,  the Federal government can’t do more than fight wars and enforce borders, not because it’s good at these things but because they’re’s no-one else to do it.   The President’s job is to communicate.  In this case he had to accelerate vaccine development because  the Federal government was the problem in the first place.

    • #61
  2. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    James Lileks (View Comment):
    I wonder if they are comforted by the idea of an unending peril they can overcome with a simple thing, or if they are the equivalent of people flying a flag of a country that no longer exists. But should.

    During this period between Memorial Day and Independence Day I wonder about the flags flying as well as those masked individuals who say to veterans “thank you for your service”. I cannot bring myself to believe there is true understanding there. Of course, in a sense I am just as guilty for chastising those who kneel during the national anthem since that symbol has lost much of its meaning as well. It is really conflicting for me to show the disrespect America deserves in its current state.

    I don’t attend sporting events so I don’t have to chose to kneel or not.  But I look at the country and the flag perhaps anachronistically, and salute the Constitution (for which it stands).

    • #62
  3. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    Flicker (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    James Lileks (View Comment):
    I wonder if they are comforted by the idea of an unending peril they can overcome with a simple thing, or if they are the equivalent of people flying a flag of a country that no longer exists. But should.

    During this period between Memorial Day and Independence Day I wonder about the flags flying as well as those masked individuals who say to veterans “thank you for your service”. I cannot bring myself to believe there is true understanding there. Of course, in a sense I am just as guilty for chastising those who kneel during the national anthem since that symbol has lost much of its meaning as well. It is really conflicting for me to show the disrespect America deserves in its current state.

    I don’t attend sporting events so I don’t have to chose to kneel or not. But I look at the country and the flag perhaps anachronistically, and salute the Constitution (for which it stands).

    The Constitution and the Flag, yes. The state of our country is a different matter altogether and mostly unrecognizable.

    • #63
  4. MiMac Thatcher
    MiMac
    @MiMac

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Let’s cast the net a little wider. I don’t believe that anyone should be coerced to take the vaccine, but I regard fears about its value/health effects to be a form of phobia.

    What if “uncertainty” is used instead of “fears”? Is that a phobia?

    It’s phobia when you realize that >99% of the recent COVID deaths have been in unvaccinated people- you can clearly see that avoiding vaccines is a risky proposition- for example here is a breakdown in LA:

    Vaccination impact in Los Angeles County, largest in the US, since beginning of campaign in December thru June 7:

    437,000 COVID cases: 99.6% in unvaccinated.
    12,900 COVID hospitalizations: 98.7% in unvaccinated.                                                  12,234 COVID deaths: 99.8% in unvaccinated

    https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/news/20210629/almost-all-us-covid-19-deaths-now-in-the-unvaccinated

    Israel has had some ZERO death days- meanwhile Russia & Indonesia have both seen spikes in deaths and have low vaccination rates- probably due to the delta variant- yet Britain, which has seen an increase in cases of infection, has NOT seen an major increase in deaths from the delta variant-most likely due to the high rate (& protection) of vaccination.

    it takes a lot of uncertainty to overcome 12200+ deaths in the unvaccinated group vs ~24 in the vaccinated patients in Los Angeles ALONE.

     

    • #64
  5. Annefy Member
    Annefy
    @Annefy

    MiMac (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Let’s cast the net a little wider. I don’t believe that anyone should be coerced to take the vaccine, but I regard fears about its value/health effects to be a form of phobia.

    What if “uncertainty” is used instead of “fears”? Is that a phobia?

    It’s phobia when you realize that >99% of the recent COVID deaths have been in unvaccinated people- you can clearly see that avoiding vaccines is a risky proposition- for example here is a breakdown in LA:

    Vaccination impact in Los Angeles County, largest in the US, since beginning of campaign in December thru June 7:

    437,000 COVID cases: 99.6% in unvaccinated.
    12,900 COVID hospitalizations: 98.7% in unvaccinated. 12,234 COVID deaths: 99.8% in unvaccinated

    https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/news/20210629/almost-all-us-covid-19-deaths-now-in-the-unvaccinated

    Israel has had some ZERO death days- meanwhile Russia & Indonesia have both seen spikes in deaths and have low vaccination rates- probably due to the delta variant- yet Britain, which has seen an increase in cases of infection, has NOT seen an major increase in deaths from the delta variant-most likely due to the high rate (& protection) of vaccination.

    it takes a lot of uncertainty to overcome 12200+ deaths in the unvaccinated group vs ~24 in the vaccinated patients in Los Angeles ALONE.

     

    That’s a pretty broad sword you’re swiping with. 

    • #65
  6. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    MiMac (View Comment):

    it takes a lot of uncertainty to overcome 12200+ deaths in the unvaccinated group vs ~24 in the vaccinated patients in Los Angeles ALONE.

     

    You might need to make some distinctions here regarding lifestyle. How many of those in the numbers you gave are street people and drug addicts? They probably are mostly unvaccinated and will remain that way while living in relatively unhealthy conditions.

    • #66
  7. MiMac Thatcher
    MiMac
    @MiMac

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    MiMac (View Comment):

    it takes a lot of uncertainty to overcome 12200+ deaths in the unvaccinated group vs ~24 in the vaccinated patients in Los Angeles ALONE.

     

    You might need to make some distinctions here regarding lifestyle. How many of those in the numbers you gave are street people and drug addicts? They probably are mostly unvaccinated and will remain that way while living in relatively unhealthy conditions.

    Even granting that 99 to 1 remains formidable odds. Furthermore, there is an old (& very jaded) saying in medicine-“dirt doesn’t die”- ie some of the most amazing recoveries are in people who, by all rights-in light of their horrible choices, should have died-while the wholesome mother/father of six dies in similar circumstances. 

    • #67
  8. DonG (2+2=5. Say it!) Coolidge
    DonG (2+2=5. Say it!)
    @DonG

    MiMac (View Comment):

    Vaccination impact in Los Angeles County, largest in the US, since beginning of campaign in December thru June 7:

    437,000 COVID cases: 99.6% in unvaccinated.
    12,900 COVID hospitalizations: 98.7% in unvaccinated.                                                  12,234 COVID deaths: 99.8% in unvaccinated

    December?   That is totally skewed by a peak long before vaccinations ramped up.  For anybody deciding now, the only statistic that matters is today’s.  The best proxy for today is the last 7 days.  The proper comparison is risk of death with vaccine vs. risk of death without vaccine.

    • #68
  9. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    MiMac (View Comment):
    Even granting that 99 to 1 remains formidable odds.

    What we witness is interesting. You are confirming with these numbers that the danger is essentially non-existent for those who have been vaccinated. It is also apparent that it would be next to impossible not to be aware of the narrative promoting the vaccine. Those not getting the vaccine have adequate fore-knowledge of the risks and those vaccinated have negligible risks. Is there an issue left here?

    • #69
  10. MiMac Thatcher
    MiMac
    @MiMac

    DonG (2+2=5. Say it!) (View Comment):

    MiMac (View Comment):

    Vaccination impact in Los Angeles County, largest in the US, since beginning of campaign in December thru June 7:

    437,000 COVID cases: 99.6% in unvaccinated.
    12,900 COVID hospitalizations: 98.7% in unvaccinated. 12,234 COVID deaths: 99.8% in unvaccinated

    December? That is totally skewed by a peak long before vaccinations ramped up. For anybody deciding now, the only statistic that matters is today’s. The best proxy for today is the last 7 days. The proper comparison is risk of death with vaccine vs. risk of death without vaccine.

    The data for May is the same-99.2% of deaths in the unvaccinated-it is in the cited article 

    • #70
  11. DWard Coolidge
    DWard
    @DWard

    DWard (View Comment):

    The only way I know to address this is to get on with my life and not wear a mask unless I am required to do so. We do not help people address fears by forcing society to accommodate them. It’s one thing to avoid dining at a rooftop restaurant out of consideration for a friend who has a fear of heights. It’s another thing altogether to ban rooftop restaurants because people have acrophobia. All I can do is shop unmasked, and hope that slowly, those who fear doing so see that others are doing it and begin to question their fear. I live in CA, and 2 weeks after the end of our mask mandate, I’m slowly seeing more people not wearing masks at the local grocery store. I hope the trend continues.

    Update!  While, as I mentioned above, masks wearing at my local supermarket is slowly going down, I made my first trip to Trader Joe’s today and so many people were masked, I had to look at their sign in the door and confirm that masks were optional for vaccinated people. I’m face, I heard a customer ask a cashier about it and the cashier told her, “Yes, the rule has changed and masks aren’t required.”  The cashier then said she was wearing a mask to make customers feel more comfortable. You know what? What makes me feel more comfortable are workers who aren’t. It’s time to stop making the fearful comfortable. It’s time to make the vaccinated comfortable by asserting that being vaccinated offers better protection than masks.

    • #71
  12. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    DWard (View Comment):
    It’s time to make the vaccinated comfortable by asserting that being vaccinated offers better protection than masks.

    Hear! Hear!

    • #72
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