RDM NEWS SWEKEEN may 03 2020

03 / /MAY / 2020 / /003
RDM WEEKEND NEWS
NEWS SPECIAL COLLABORATION RDM
COVID-19, THE PANDEMIC OF DOUBTS
HOW TO MANAGE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION RELATED TO THIS
HEALTH CRISIS.
By: Dr. Waldo Castro, MD, MD-Ayurveda
Since the end of 2019, what we know as Covid-19
appeared in Wuhan City, Hubei province China. Initially
ignored beyond what seemed like one more incident of the
many we have seen emerging in China and around the
world from viral diseases.
The subsequent spread and contagion of this virus came as
we know to unimaginable magnitudes both by the number
of cases in certain populations and by the global
dispersion. leading to it being classified as a global
pandemic.
The biggest problem we have experienced with this
pandemic is DISINFORMATION and PANIC.
Disinformation or even misinformation stems from two
causes. First, there is the lack of scientific experience in
relation to this Coronavirus mutation, which appears to
have taken everyone by surprise ...this is of course solely
based on what we are being told. Second, we live in an era
where virtually everyone has at their fingertips mass
media broadcasting of all sorts, where one can act both as
a consumer and a producer of information; in these
environments checks and balances are at best lax. Some
people even with good intentions, spread news without
verification of sources or veracity of content ...this type of
misinformation is particularly harmful, because it is
organic and grass roots in its nature, with no apparent
special interest or agenda; allowing it to easily gain illfounded
credibility that allows it to spread like wildfire.
Human beings due to our gregarious nature, always seek
to belong. It is a primitive biological principle which
consolidates with the first tribal groupings. Belonging to a
group gives us an extremely rewarding sense of security.
This in turn leads us to accept what the group accepts, even
if it is wrong, since we subconsciously want to continue to
be accepted. We see this situation seriously aggravated by the
fact that people have been distancing themselves from each
other, particularly regarding live contact. This is something
that goes against our primordial human fiber and that has
generated a damaging emotional vacuum in a great many
individuals and peoples around the globe. Our interactions
have been shifted to social media and a cyberspace
consistently and increasingly more alarming. That is why we
now feel more helpless and distant from each other, despite
being “more connected" than ever in history.
The emotional fragility that results from this, puts us in
an alarming situation of emotional vulnerability and
distress.
The present global health crisis has had repercussions
that go far beyond the disease state itself, and even the
number of fatalities that Covid-19 can cause. It has in
fact already had important repercussions in other areas,
on the global, community and family economy. Nor is it
difficult to understand that we have not bottomed out on
these issues, which will lead to more uncertainty and
fear.
But there is one area that has been greatly neglected,
which will bring important repercussions to the state of
health of people all over the world, not only physical but
mental health as well.
If we could call ANXIETY and DEPRESSION
pandemics by the number of cases in a community and
the sudden global presentation and prevalence, related
just to the Covid-19 crisis; we would already be entering
a MENTAL DISEASE PANDEMIC as well.
The situation we are currently experiencing as a result of
this pandemic by Covid-19, is causing significant
repercussions on the mental health status of individuals,
without excluding anyone by age, gender, ethnicity or
social position. These are related to panic that spreads,
often unintentionally, through various channels
including social media; or from what I call the MOE or
Media Over Exposure phenomenon. It is fast becoming
a clinical mental health problem that combines several
points. First, it keeps you in an exalted state of alertness,
which is far from normal. In this artificially created
imbalance and chronic Fight, Flight or Hide response,
there is a cascade of neurotransmitters raised due to the
media generated stress; some of these are cortisol,
causing harmful effects on our physiology. In addition,
we are generating a pathological need to remain
connected to these sources, for fear of not knowing, of
being left out of the loop and perhaps no longer
belonging to whatever we perceive as necessary, or
vitally important; which is very often unfounded. This in
turn degenerates into two highly toxic phenomena
affecting our well-being and health. First a chronic state
of panic and there is also the development of obsessive
behaviors, accompanied by compulsions which do not
let us rest nor disconnect our minds so that it repairs and
replenishes.
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