Coronavirus: To Panic Or Not To Panic?

Yesterday I heard my phone ding and read the message, “Hey friend, I need your advice. We are supposed to fly next week, would you be nervous getting on a plane right now with coronavirus?”

It’s March and I’ve already had to limit my news and social media exposure three times this year. It’s exhausting out there. The division, everyone sharing their opinion, and the fact that it truly is mostly opinion not facts drains me quicker than my iPhone 6 could drain a battery.

January. It wasn’t just a new year, it was a new decade. For weeks I watched people post similar thoughts on opposing sides every single day. “Look at me with all my big goals, watch me do big things. You can do it too, here’s how to set goals the right way.” OR “You people with your big new year’s resolutions and goals are dumb, it’s just another day. You didn’t do anything for the last 12 months so what makes you think you’ll change now?” Division. Strong OPINIONS on both sides.

February. The J.Lo Shakira Super bowl fiasco. Everyone had an OPINION and almost everyone shared it publicly. While I didn’t post, I did comment on a few posts. I was even asked by a few people to write a blog post because my viewpoint of the opposing opinions was from a different perspective. But I decided not to. Why? I was tired of hearing about it. The topic was boring. It was divided, with a whole bunch of opinions lacking thoughtful discussion. No one was listening to each other. They were just spouting opposing views, wanting to be listened to but not wanting to listen.

Now it’s March and we’re onto our third all encompassing topic of the year: coronavirus. I can hear the comments already, so before they start, I’m not comparing the Super Bowl or new decade commentary to a highly contagious infectious disease. I realize it is different than the previously mentioned subjects but much like new year’s resolutions in January and J.Lo and Shakira in February, we can’t turn on the TV or pop onto social media without hearing about it constantly. How we as a society have responded is similar. Memes, opinions, jokes, articles, fear, drama, panic, and occasionally a fact. Whatever we want (or don’t want to find) it’s there and we don’t even have to look for it.

I’m exhausted. 1.  from hearing about it constantly. 2. from the panic and respond mode society now seems so naturally inclined jump into. Am I the only one tired?

Getting back to the original question: to panic or not to panic?  

Am I panicking? No. Am I concerned? Yes.

There’s a difference between concern and panic.  I’m personally not planning on crossing that line. I believe the posts, articles, news commentary etc. are being shared mainly not out of desire to inform but rather fear and the need to either confirm or assuage those fears.

Being concerned about COVID-19 means making it a matter of interest or importance. It means learning and staying informed.  Panicking about COVID-19, by definition, means sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety about the virus, causing wildly unthinking behavior.

Panic doesn’t control the situation or change the situation. Panic is an out of control response to something we want to, but are unable to change.

Going out and buying up a crap load (pun intended) of toilet paper doesn’t put me at an advantage when it comes to not contracting the virus. Paying $599 for hand sanitizer would in my opinion be wildly unthinking behavior.  

I work in an ICU, we have a mask shortage and people have been seen STEALING masks from the hospital.  As healthcare workers on the frontline we need masks to protect us from the things (so far, in our hospital, not COVID-19… but possibly in the coming weeks) that are transmitted via droplet and patients currently have been diagnosed with.

The stealing, price gouging and willingness to pay these unheard of prices, I would say exhibit panic… and panic is not a helpful response.

What is keeping me calm cool and collected even though I am not burying my head (or my toes) in the sand?  Hint, it’s not an ice cold Corona with lime.

1.The ability to separate facts from opinion and speculation.

When we watch the news most of what’s being said and shared is opinion and speculation. We need to be able to discern the difference in order to save our sanity.

The other day I was standing in a patient’s room giving some medications. He had the news on and, surprise, it was coronavirus coverage. They flashed up a picture of something under a microscope with the title “COVID-19.” The picture itself was scary… or gross depending on the way you handle those visuals. It hit me. Was this an actual picture of what coronavirus looks like under a microscope?  Likely not. Judging by the similar yet different pictures I saw on several different channels in several different patient’s rooms throughout the day, most likely it was a picture of some bacteria or virus the news station googled, grabbed and put up with the headline in order to appeal to our fears with the goal of getting us to think we need to watch the report like our lives depend on it. I’ll admit, sometimes it works on me.

Bottom line, there are some facts being reported. There are also SO MANY opinions. Know the difference. Listen to when they say “what we know” vs. “what we think.” Question what you are hearing and make your decisions based on the facts.  If you’re using opinions to make decisions, that’s ok, just be sure you are aware they are opinions and use the ones that make sense to you.

2.Prevention practices are part of our family lifestyle.  

We wash our hands the old fashioned way. We all eat and supplement in a way that keeps our immune systems at an advantage.  This is not just as a result of recent events, it’s our common practice. If you want to read more on our prevention lifestyle click here. (I’ll be adding a post. For now just message or email me.)

3.We know the difference between reducing our exposure and increasing our immunity and we do it.  

When people panic, thought tends to go out the window and they just start doing. It’s almost as if they’re simply doing something just to feel like they’re doing something.  Take a deep breath (just not around someone with coronavirus… lol… bad joke) and consider the process of what you’re doing.  

Most of what I see involves, hand sanitizer, hand washing and masks.  BIG YES to hand hygiene. Washing your hands is a big deal. It reduces exposure and chances of contracting the illness, that’s great. But, in my opinion, there’s two areas for us to work on, exposure control (which includes hand washing) and immune system support.

I believe immune system support is being largely overlooked, as always. Are you still letting your kids eat pop tarts, mac n cheese, drink Capri Sun and skip their veggies?  Are YOU still skipping your veggies? Are you skipping your supplements?  If you answered yes, you’ve got some things you can do to help yourself and your family out.

We should be practicing both exposure control and immune system support always, especially during flu season or in this case a coronavirus outbreak. Knowing the difference and doing both allows us to control everything (the only things) within our control. When you control what you can it decreases panic drastically. 

I can’t tell you what to do or think but I can tell you concern and common sense are more productive than panic.

It’s a lot of responsibility to be a trusted voice in times like this and it’s one I don’t take lightly. So, how did I reply to my friend’s text? I told her, “You’re asking the girl that’s ALWAYS scared to fly, because flying in general scares me.” Seriously though, I told her I would take the same precautions I always take, gave her a list of immune boosting things she could do and told her ultimately this is a decision she has to make and be comfortable with.

Our family isn’t panicking. We are concerned and taking this seriously. We want to stay informed with the facts available, but we also want to live life and not spend another month paralyzed and overcome by whatever topic the media decides to report on 24 hours a day. Life is too short for that.

Rita is a mom, farmwife, ICU RN, speaker, advocate for nutrition and bringing common sense back into everyday health practices. This article is strictly her opinion. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease and should not replace medical advice.