The Coronavirus has become a global problem that affects millions of people around the world, increasing the fear or phobia of contagion. From Centro Integra we want to offer you a series of keys to face the fear of contagion by Coronavirus .
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How do epidemics affect us psychologically?
During these days there is much talk in the media about the medical, economic and psychological consequences of the virus.
As Psychologists, we recommend that the psychological consequences generated by epidemics should not be underestimated . The information and, sometimes, the over-information that we have causes in some people an excessive concern to get infected, get sick and even die .
There is nothing more contagious than fear.
The precautions that we must take to avoid contagion can turn against us if they become an obsession.
Can you control the fear of contagion?
The answer is a resounding yes. Fear itself does not have to be bad, it is a human reaction and the threshold is different for each person.
Fear not only appears in real situations but also appears in our thoughts. This usually happens when we give too much importance to something and spend a lot of time thinking about it.
Fear is still a normal and necessary emotion like all the others. It is a physiological reaction of defense and adaptation that activates the state of alarm in the face of potential threats. So far it would be useful and functional, but there is a fear that is no longer adaptive, it is a disproportionate reaction due to its intensity and frequency and that limits our daily activity.
How to face the fear of contagion by Coronavirus?
As with other types of fears, to face the fear of contagion of the coronavirus or any other virus, the first thing is to accept it . The key is to control your emotions so they don’t become obsessive.
We must assess our real situation, whether or not we have been exposed to the virus. If the answer is negative, there is no need to worry. We must not anticipate the negative or indulge in fear. We should try, as far as possible, to do the things we did before, follow the same routine and only when the experts and authorities say that we cannot do something, then act .
We must not allow fear to paralyze us since we can fall into a situation of emotional turmoil that has nothing to do with our reality. Fear arises from ignorance and that is why it is important to follow an adequate informative strategy, avoid conversations where each one brings more alarm and above all avoid transmitting our fears.
It is very important to remain calm and always be informed by truthful means.
So one of the things we can do to face the fear of contagion by coronavirus is to use this fear only as a tool to motivate reasonable self-care routines .
It is important to also differentiate between fear and phobia. When it comes to phobia, it is recommended that you go to a psychology professional since in this case the anxiety is so high that it will make it difficult for the person to control themselves.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.
We remind you that this entry belongs to a special “Psychology and Coronavirus” where you can find related articles.
Alexa Clark specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She has experience in listening and welcoming in Individual Therapy and Couples Therapy. It meets demands such as generalized anxiety, professional, love and family conflicts, stress, depression, sexual dysfunction, grief, and adolescents from 15 years of age. Over the years, She felt the need to conduct the psychotherapy sessions with subtlety since She understands that the psychologist acts as a facilitator of self-understanding and self-acceptance, valuing each person's respect, uniqueness, and acceptance.