Interview with Silvia Martinez: effects of excessive fear of COVID-19

Psychologist Silvia Martínez talks to us about the emotional effects of excessive fear of COVID-19.

There is no doubt that whatever groups that try to sow doubt through conspiracy theories may say, the coronavirus pandemic is a reality. Moreover, as we know, it is a phenomenon linked to new risks that we did not count on until a few months ago.

However, there is also no denying that we are not always able to reach a realistic understanding of the risk posed by the virus. This causes many people to suffer emotional disturbances because they have developed an excessive fear of the pandemic. This is precisely the subject we will be discussing with the interviewee who accompanies us on this occasion, the psychologist Silvia Martínez Muñoz..

Silvia Martínez: a psychological perspective on the excessive fear of the coronavirus

Silvia Martínez Muñoz is a psychologist based in Malaga and specialized in emotional problems. In this interview she talks to us about the effects on mental health of the media and social impact produced by the coronavirus, which can lead some people to develop problems of fear and anxiety.

What are the short-term emotional repercussions of always being aware of the risk of contagion?

Being always aware of this risk can generate fear, worry and depressive states. Scientific studies have shown that there is a relationship between stress, produced by these negative emotions, and a decrease in the immune response.

On the other hand, Spanish health authorities warned earlier this summer of a 20% increase in mental disorders due to confinement.

From what you have been seeing as a psychologist, do people with anxiety disorders experience this pandemic crisis in a different way?

From my clinical experience, in these months of confinement and post-confinement there has been an increase in the number of cases of hypochondriasis, in which anxiety and anguish are very present. It is a disorder in which there is a constant and obsessive preoccupation with one's own health, and a tendency to exaggerate suffering, whether real or imagined.

Can the fact of having had to spend several weeks leaving home very little reinforce the fear of coronavirus, causing the risk to be exaggerated?

In principle, it should not, in my view. This situation has created a lot of uncertainty and I believe that the key may be to reformulate this uncertainty, that is, to take advantage of the confinement and the current situation to take an impulse, to see the positive side and develop our being, our profession, etc.

There are people who, during confinement, have practiced sports at home, or have been able to improve their eating habits, and in general, have seen confinement as an opportunity to do new things or even to start studying.

There are several voices that have spoken about an over-information about COVID that may have increased the feeling of fear and concern. There is a term that is becoming very popular in recent months. It is called Doomscrolling, and it refers to an addiction that many people have developed to bad news. It is best to consult authoritative sources on this subject, such as the WHO (World Health Organization).

In your opinion, could the typical alarmism of the media be creating an unjustified fear of the virus?

Yes, without any doubt. Generally, the people with the greatest sense of fear tend to be the elderly, who are a risk group, and those who usually watch the news the most. However, there are many people, not only the elderly, who watch the news every day and feel anxious.

It is true that the virus exists, but as I mentioned before, stress and fear cause the immune system to become less effective, and we know that this is a very important aspect for the body to be able to overcome the viruses and bacteria that surround us and have always surrounded us.

What advice would you give to manage this discomfort, linked to anxiety and fear of contagion?

The main advice I would give would be to reduce the time of exposure to news on this topic. I mean, if a person who normally watches two newscasts a day and reads newspapers on the Internet wants to reduce the feeling of fear, it would be advisable to watch one newscast a day or read one newspaper a day. It is possible to be informed, but it is not advisable to be over-informed, since this type of news affects the state of mind.

It is also highly recommended that you see a psychologist to express how you feel and try to reduce these levels of anxiety and anxiety, which may be affecting the quality of sleep, food digestion and low mood, among other aspects.

For these states of anxiety or fear, it is very good to do some physical activity that the person likes, whether it is walking in the evenings, doing a specific sport, etc. There are studies that affirm the relationship between physical activity and subjective well-being, regardless of a person's age. In addition, more endorphins, the so-called happiness hormones, are secreted in this way. In general, we should spend time doing things that we enjoy and that make us feel good.

Do you think that, spontaneously and unaided, most people will adapt to spending time in confinement or semi-confinement if the pandemic crisis drags on?

Publications are already coming out about the psychological effects of confinement, and this possibility would not be very advisable, since we are social beings and need contact with others. Being a compulsory isolation, confinement implies breaking with our day to day life, our routines, leisure... which generates an important psychological burden.

I believe that in this sense, other less traumatic alternatives for the population should be sought, such as the confinement of people only for the virus or similar, in the event that this possibility is raised again.