Medication for Corona Virus Anxiety

The fear of death is natural and it drives all living organisms on the planet. At the core of everything we do, there is something tied to survival. So it is not surprising that the world is currently in fear and panic because of COVID-19, which at the time of typing this has no vaccine.

The panic and fear is very logical and justifiable given the number of deaths in countries that have infrastructure and disaster budgets of world conquest proportions. African countries cannot even contain diseases that have had vaccines for over 50 years.

So you can imagine the fear in Africa. Specifically let me target Zimbabwe, because I know it very well.

This post is in response to an article that someone I care about wrote about anxiety during this time.

Below are thoughts to consider before worrying about COVID-19

Does positive thinking help in this instance?

I encourage positive thinking but it is not a substitute for caution. It should be accompanied by best practices and correct knowledge. One has to filter what is neccessary and unneccessary.

Some of the (many) symptoms of COVID-19 are dry cough, shortness of breath and fatigue/tiredness.

Guess what, besides the cough , the other two are often also signs of anxiety.

People usually have common cold, flu here and there and it has never been an issue because there was no "Corona Virus".

But picture this, lets say someone with common cold is already in panic mode and fearsome of Corona Virus (because they are watching updates all day on new detection statistics).

Can't a cough lead to to debilitating anxiety which then exhibits the other two symptoms.

Which further weakens the immunity of the victim.

I have a Doctor friend who was on call in Gauteng who told me that he saw many people who had common cold, asthma and other common diseases who had visited because they were terrified.

The No-cebo Effect

You may have probably heard of the placebo effect. If you haven't don't worry I will explain what it is before to refresh your memory. You have to know what that is to understand a No-cebo.

A placebo effect is when someone gets cured of a disease by being deceived that they have undergone actual treatment. In fact studies show that the healing is real and permanent most times.

Most people know placebos as just the "pill" itself, but a placebo goes beyond the  pill. The whole environment of the clinic, how the Dr. presents and  so forth adds to it. It works based on belief.

The body actually starts to heal itself. (I will link a great video at the end of the article).

Now a No-cebo effect is the same but in reverse. If you ate canned beans from a certain company and then read fake news as you you were eating which claimed that the beans was being made by sewage water, you'd probably puke and be sick for days.

I am sorry for making it graphic.

At this point many people may be low-key suspecting that they have it and  the subconscious is so powerful that by doing so mild symptoms may present, because the mind knows how to activate a little cough here and there in as much as it can get your stomach upset off a simple break up.

The Inevitability Of Death

My sister is very motivational staunch christian and I love that quality about her. She sent in a family group how God's people were spared in Moses time during the great plagues.

However, I have a little alter ego in me that likes to observe things from other angles.

Indeed they were spared at that time, they lived and survived only to die another day. Is a person who dies from this virus more dead than people who died from other causes?

Are the people that won't get COVID-19 going to be on Earth permanently. Escaping death is an infinite war.

You will ask, "But how is that supposed to make me feel better?

Well when you embrace the inevitability of death you will realize that anxiety over one cause is not worth it. It is not to say be careless and irresponsible either, it's just to say, "All is vanity."

If i don't die today i will still die on another day.

"Call me up when you find the cure for death," I always say, "Which one of you can prevent death by worrying?"

Focus on other things

Reading updates hourly on a pandemic can get one to worry about some events that are probably not going to happen to them.

Indeed the cases will be true and are happening to some people. I get it.

But that's the same as if there was a website updating hourly how many people are dying of hunger and so forth. It would just get your reticular activating system to focus on that.

In times like this you want to start new hobbies. I think I want to try making deep fakes personally because your brain begins rewiring when you start a new habit.

Also realize that scrolling for what the cases are can become a habit.

You don't want your neurology to rewire toward releasing stress hormones every 10 minutes.

Working out can stimulate BDNF's (Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor) which reduces anxiety.

Watch comedy as well.

Look at the good news too

There are confirmed cases of people that have tested positive of this virus but later negative. More recoveries have occured than deaths.

So in the worst case scenario one can get it, suffer  some symptoms and kick it out.

What about the economic impact?

The economic impact is great and it affects almost everyone (if not everyone). Not sure if there is comfort in numbers. For other people circumstances are different especially self employed people and small businesses.

Even big businesses have gone to their knees. We cannot minimize that.

However since it has already happened we cannot dwell on it if we are to move.

Don't let it cut you at the roots.

I get a haircut monthly and in weeks my hair always grows back. If you don't pluck lawn or poison it at the roots it may take time but it will always be back where it was.

The 21 day lock-down is a good window period to rewire oneself to make those roots stronger  and to plant new seeds which may show fruit after some time has passed 9and you may even have forgotten when you planted them).

We can lose money, sustainability, relationships and so forth temporarily but as long as the mind that brought them is intact and we keep improving it, we stand to get it back twice over.

Spirituality or Nah?

Spirituality for many is a good place of refuge. It lessens the fear of death, because it promises an after-life. Whether an after-life is real or not, if the promise of it helps minimize that fear then I cannot say there is anything wrong with it.

Of course during this time some Churches and (well wishing Christians) will try and get more followers by reinforcing the end time doctrine . (Which has been used other centuries before during other pandemics at a time they were severe). It's up to the individual to take that or not I guess.

I personally  will say that if it takes me away, it takes me. If i survive i will still die another year from another cause wont I.

That's what lessens my worry (it does not reduce it 100%).

I also meditate on peace and love. I usually use guided meditations, just to lower the volume on the negative chatter.

Here is that link on Placebo I promised:

The No-cebo Effect