By Wendy L. Patrick, Psychology Today, March 13, 2020
Pandemic panic is nothing new. But depending on who you are and what your life experiences have entailed, it might be new to you. It is helpful to realize you are not alone if you are experiencing feelings of helplessness or even hopelessness as you watch news coverage of the increasing spread of illness or disease. But thankfully, there are ways to achieve and sustain positivity amidst the panic.
One of the most important things you can do is to make sure you are consuming accurate, authoritative, reputable news. One of the best ways public officials ease public fear is through transmission of the right type and amount of information, delivered in a fashion that people can understand, relate to, and act upon immediately. The challenge, however, is prompting necessary action, while avoiding over-reaction.
Words Matter: Tempering Terms of Distress
As news coverage spreads faster than the actual virus itself, so does public anxiety. We are wise to recognize how much of our reaction comes not from realistic risks, but from emotionally charged terminology. Even the word “pandemic” strikes fear into listeners, whether or not people actually know what it means or how it is defined. And as a public health crisis develops, words like “quarantine” and “isolation” further alarm community members, who then spring into action in order to stock up in preparation to hunker down.
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