CORONA PHOBIA – aka – COVID PHOBIA
Musings of a Veteran
By
VIKRAM KARVE
Corona Virus has
changed my life forever.
(Corona Virus is also known as
COVID19 – aka – COVID – I will use the terms interchangeably)
The aim of the tremendous
hype by government and media (since February 2020) on “Corona Virus” (COVID) may
have been intended to create awareness – but – it also had the unintended
effect of creating an acute fear of getting infected by the contagious virus
and contracting the terrible disease for which there is no cure – a terrible fear
of Corona Virus (COVID) – that I call “Corona
Phobia” – aka – “COVID Phobia”.
This scary media hype
highlighting how the dreadful Corona Virus was spreading all over the country –
and – the frequent showing of “scoreboards” of COVID cases and deaths – all this
sensational hype by media worsened the fear – the “Corona Phobia”.
Then they announced “Lockdown”
and locked us inside our houses – while continuing to bombard us with news of
the dreaded disease.
As if this was not
enough – the way various media portrayed news of COVID victims – and an impression
was created – that if you were unlucky to catch the dreaded Corona Virus – you would
be treated like a “criminal” and locked up in desolate Quarantine Centres – or confined
in isolation in miserable COVID wards/hospitals.
From time to time –
there were news items of COVID “Patients” escaping from COVID Wards or fleeing
from Quarantine – which exacerbated your fears of COVID and worsened the “Corona
Phobia”.
Of course – the continuous
bombardment of information of how you could catch Corona Virus and Precautions to
be taken – all this made you fearful of even stepping out of your house – or even
touching anything.
Even going down to
get milk, vegetables or essential items became an agonizing experience – lest there
were people who were infected with Corona Virus – and – of course – there were
many careless people who did not take precautions like maintaining social distance
or wearing masks – who heightened the “COVID Phobia” in you.
Soon – you started
suspected everyone of being infected by Corona Virus.
There were constant
warnings that Senior Citizens were more vulnerable to COVID – so – they should
avoid stepping out of the house – but – sadly – we are two senior citizens in
our 60’s and one 87 year old super senior citizen cooped up in the house – so –
I had no option but to step out of the house to buy essentials required for
survival.
We have been “locked
down” in our homes for over 4 months now – and – this isolated life – living in
constant fear of COVID – in a state of “Corona Phobia” – this has taken a toll
on our mental and physical health.
Prolonged Lockdown
and “COVID Phobia” have changed my lifestyle forever.
I have not been able
to do the things I like the most.
No Long Walks – No
Eating Out – No Meeting Friends – No Socializing – No Shopping – No Movies – No
Going Out at all – it is like “House Imprisonment”.
Due to “Corona Phobia”
– I am scared to visit my dentist – and my broken tooth remains untreated.
One doesn’t know the
facts but someone said that it was best to avoid dental treatment during the
COVID Pandemic since “aerosols” carried the Corona Virus – and aerosols were generated
during dental treatment.
I am scared to visit doctor’s
clinics/hospitals for overdue medical check-ups and for treatment of Non-COVID
ailments after hearing reports of some people catching “Corona Virus” during
their visits to hospitals.
So – “COVID Phobia”
makes me suffer in silence – rather than risk catching the dreaded Corona Virus
if I visit the dental clinic or hospital OPD.
Our house-help (maid)
stopped coming to work more than 4 months ago when the first few Corona Virus cases
were discovered in Pune (imported from foreign countries) – and all of them
went back to their villages where they felt safer because rural areas were
Corona-Free at the point of time.
Now – due to “COVID
Phobia” we may never hire a maid or domestic house-help again.
(Of course – one positive aspect
of the Lockdown is that we have become “atma nirbhar” and we do all our housework
ourselves)
Every day – we hear
news of how the COVID Pandemic is rapidly spreading and going out of control.
We see the dreaded COVID
coming closer and closer – and we hear of Corona Virus cases in our vicinity.
After their initial
bravado and “josh” – and their publicity stunts and “gimmicks” like “Thali
Banging”, “Lamp Lighting”, “Petal Showering” etc. – politicians seem to have
given up hope – and left the citizens to fend for themselves.
Seemingly clueless
about how to handle the COVID Pandemic – politicians appear to have stopped focusing
on Corona Virus – and started diverting their attention to playing politics – hoping
that COVID will go away on its own – and media too has started highlighting
other issues.
But – the common
citizen is worried about Corona Virus – which seems all encompassing – and is
surrounding you day by day.
Yes – “Corona Phobia”
is all pervasive – it has affected me – and – I am sure “COVID Phobia” has
affected everyone (though some persons may
remain in denial).
As I explained
earlier – due to “Corona Phobia” and Lockdown – I am not able to do most of the
things which were normal routine for me – since outdoor activities are
restricted or prohibited.
Even if Lockdown is
relaxed – “COVID Phobia” would deter me from doing those activities which were an
essential part of my life before the Corona Virus entered the environment.
“Corona Phobia” (“COVID
Phobia”) has caused a great deterioration in my quality of life.
“COVID Phobia” has transformed
a gregarious extrovert like me into a social recluse – a “hikikomori”.
Yes – “Corona Phobia”
has forced me to withdraw from society – all my outdoor activities and external
relationships have been stopped – and I am forced to live a lonely life of
confinement indoors – like a “hermit”.
And – this “Corona
Phobia” will remain till “Corona Virus” is eradicated – or till a vaccine is
found – and we are vaccinated to protect us from the dreaded “Corona Virus”.
Till then – I will
have to live a dismal lifestyle – thanks to “COVID Phobia”.
Due to “Corona
Phobia” – life may never be the same again.
____________________________
PS :
It may sound
fatalistic and extreme despondency – but – a normally gregarious senior citizen
– now cooped up in his house for months due to COVID Lockdown – and obviously
overcome by “Corona Phobia” – he said: “It is better to die of COVID than live
a miserable life like this in constant fear of “Corona Virus”…”
“Corona Phobia” – aka
– “COVID Phobia” is a reality.
“Corona Phobia” (“COVID Phobia”) is a PTSD
(Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) of the COVID Pandemic.
Everyone is focusing on
alleviation of the physical health effects of Corona Virus – and the effects of
the COVID Pandemic on the Economy.
But – Corona Virus (and
COVID Pandemic) is going to have psychological effects as well – which will have
a bearing on mental health – and cause mental stress to persons of all age
groups and belonging of various sections of society.
VIKRAM KARVE
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2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
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