The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a rise in conditions like anxiety, depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), sleep disturbances, and substance abuse. Why is it that some individuals have managed to move forward and overcome their fears and anxieties about COVID-19, while others find themselves feeling stuck or even worse? From a brief strategic perspective, it's possible that what we refer to as "attempted solutions" has played a role in this difference.
Dr. Tedros, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), was correct in stating that "fear of the virus is spreading even faster than the virus itself."
The predominant emotion associated with the COVID-19 pandemic is fear. We've all experienced fear of contracting the virus and the potential for severe illness or death. Additionally, there's anxiety stemming from the uncertainty of the situation, which can make it challenging to see a way out of the crisis.
Beyond the fear of illness, many have also grappled with the fear of loss. This includes the fear of losing loved ones, particularly those who are more vulnerable. Loss brings with it another essential yet uncomfortable emotion: pain. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused pain for those who have suffered from the disease itself, as well as for the long-term effects of long-COVID. However, the most profound pain comes from the loss and grief of a loved one, especially during the early stages of the pandemic when many passed away in isolation, leaving their friends and family without the opportunity to say goodbye.
In one way or another, we have all been impacted by this virus and its consequences. We have all experienced varying degrees of these emotions. In this post, we'll primarily focus on fear. A subsequent post will delve into the topic of pain.
From a brief strategic perspective, the concept of "attempted solutions" may have played a role in how individuals have coped with the challenges posed by the pandemic. These "attempted solutions" refer to the strategies or actions that people employ to solve a problem or address a situation. However, when these strategies are repeatedly used without success, they can become problematic themselves. Some of the primary attempted solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic include excessive avoidance, heightened control and precautions, and compulsive information-seeking behaviours.
(For more detailed information about what "attempted solutions" are and to explore the Brief Strategic Therapy model further, please visit the "My approach" section on the website.)
How does avoidance become a problem?
From the beginning of the pandemic, one of the things we've heard most from health authorities is to avoid social contact to prevent the spread of the virus. However, some individuals have taken this social isolation to the extreme. They have become housebound, even when lockdowns and restrictions were lifted, due to an extreme fear of catching the virus. Some have gone to great lengths to stay apart from the people they live with in the same house.
I've encountered individuals who, after restrictions were lifted, expressed feeling uneasy or anxious about returning to normal life. The idea of leaving home, their safe haven where they've been for several months, triggers their fear. This fear isn't just about catching the virus; it also relates to exposing themselves to situations that, prior to the pandemic, they weren't even aware they had issues with.
Avoidance is a common response when we fear something. Escaping from the object of fear can provide the person with the illusion of safety and temporarily reduce anxiety. However, there's a more powerful and long-term consequence: every time a person avoids a situation, they reinforce their belief that they can't handle it. This amplifies fear and anxiety, making the feared object more intimidating and trapping the person in a cycle where avoidance seems to be the only option.
What initially started as a strategy to protect against the virus has become a self-imposed prison.
How can getting control and taking precautions become a problem?
Since the beginning of the pandemic, we've been advised to wear masks, wash our hands regularly, and clean surfaces to prevent the spread of the virus. However, some individuals have taken these precautions to an extreme, excessively washing their hands or cleaning surfaces, and even wearing masks when it's unnecessary.
Similar to what happens with avoidance, the more a person invests in over controlling and taking excessive precautions, the greater the risk of neglecting appropriate precautions when necessary. This increases the person's chances of contracting the virus because they may not have the clarity to focus on what truly matters.
Ironically, despite having the best intentions to stay safe, these behaviours can eventually become problems in themselves.
How can compulsive information search become a problem?
During this pandemic, we've all been inundated with information, some of which is contradictory or even false. Our desire to understand the virus, our unseen enemy, has turned into a compulsion for some individuals. They can't seem to stop searching, Googling, or reading about COVID-19.
The internet is a vast source of information, where you can find almost anything. It's as if the rule is, "If you can't find it on the internet, it doesn't exist." The sheer amount and variety of information available enable those hungry for knowledge to explore nearly every topic. However, this very aspect of the internet is what ensnares them: once you enter, it's challenging to escape. People who compulsively use the internet and consume news to seek certainty and reassurance often end up with more questions and less comfort than they started with. This leads to a cycle of continuous searching in an attempt to find the answers they crave.
All the aforementioned coping strategies—avoidance, excessive control, overprecaution, and relentless information seeking—are healthy protective mechanisms when used in moderation to prevent virus transmission. However, when taken to extremes, they become traps.
If you're struggling with any of these issues or any other condition, whether related to COVID-19 or not, please don't hesitate to contact me. Through the use of specific strategies, I can assist you in breaking the cycle between your attempted solutions and the perpetuation of the problem. Together, we can work on your journey to recovery.
Related readings:
La mente ferita, Giorgio Nardone, Federica Cagnoni, Roberta Milanese
World Psychiatry 2020, June, 19:2
Mental Health Disorders Related to COVID-19–Related Deaths. Naomi M. Simon, MD, MSc1; Glenn N. Saxe, MD2; Charles R. Marmar, MD3
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