Face mask shortages, empty grocery aisles, and plunging stock markets are just a few examples of the impact of the widespread panic about the coronavirus (COVID-19). At times like this, it is helpful to take the time to understand how such fears are developed and maintained, or even exacerbated.
Factors Contributing to Fears
Our brains are wired to pay attention to threats. Due to its novelty, we have poorer understanding of coronavirus prevention and treatment. As a result, our emotions may hijack our reasoning, leading to biases in how we process information. This is intensified as we are exposed to continuous media coverage about the outbreak, and exposed to the panicked responses of those around us.
If you walk into a crowded mall just as everyone else is running the opposite way screaming, you may find yourself running out–before asking questions.
Those who have previously experienced similar traumas (e.g. scarcity due to financial instability or natural disaster) may be particularly vulnerable to this sense of uncertainty and unpredictability. Increasing our sense of security becomes our priority, which can erroneously lead to “emotion-driven” conclusions. An example of this is the growing stigma against persons of Asian descent and emergency responders; when in reality, social support is important to improving the resilience of our community.
Fear Management
Actively seeking out information from trusted sources while filtering “fake news” and fear-mongering, will be important as we are bombarded with information about the outbreak. It will be important to find a balance between being hypervigilant and avoiding information about the virus altogether. To address this concern, the American Psychological Association released Five Tips for Managing Anxiety from Coronavirus News Reports.
Along with fact-checking, it will be helpful to critically analyze your level of risk based on your current location, recent travel destinations, and personal health risk factors. The World Health Organization (WHO): Coronavirus webpage includes a collection of trusted articles and videos about the outbreak, along with tips for protecting yourself. WHO also released a series of infographics centred on Coronavirus Myth Busters, which dispels common myths about prevention and treatment.