Coronavirus, am I right? It’s everywhere these days. And if you’re scared, confused, and stressed about it, you’re definitely not alone.
All-day long, you’re getting messages from various media sources—television, online, social media—and it can beat you up. The numbers being reported are scary, often outlining worst-case scenarios.
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That can all take a toll on your physical and mental health.
The stress surrounding the coronavirus is real and the fear is a completely natural response. But to protect your heart and mind, you want to keep that fear from tipping to panic.
One of the ways to do that is to control your inflow of information. Sticking to trusted authoritative sources like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for accurate and unbiased information is your best bet.
Following your local department of health is also a good way of keeping track of developments in your community.
Getting your information from these sources, as opposed to news programs, Facebook posts, or social media, is recommended as they focus on the facts. Media sources try to play to human emotion by showing scary images and magnifying the biggest concerns.
It’s data versus images that are designed to evoke emotion.
For example, think of the eerie photos of empty streets. But really, where are all those people? Safe at home. And while your favorite news channel might be reporting the imminent danger, the WHO reports that most people will experience mild or moderate symptoms without any long-term consequence.
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And that’s likely from the most authoritative health resource on the planet.
Considering your personal risk is also important. Are you coming into contact with plenty of people each day or not washing your hands? Likely not. And if you’re heeding professional advice and self-isolating, you’re at even less risk of contracting COVID-19.
Taking a moment to consider your personal risk and seeking out accurate, unbiased information is the best way to ease the stress and confusion surrounding COVID-19.
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
