If you are possessed by an idea, you find it expressed everywhere, you even smell it.
—Thomas Mann
When I talk with people and ask them if they feel scared of the coronavirus, most of them say “I’m not scared for me… I’m scared for others.” Furthering our conversation, we conclude that — as long as we follow the basic hygiene principles and take preventative measures against spreading the virus within reason — we’re not so scared of the coronavirus. So, what kind of mind game is it then that our psychology plays on us during this trying time?
How many times a day can someone wash their hands? For how long can one keep up measuring the time spent with others, or the distance kept from other humans and objects? How much can someone readjust their life so as to avoid violent thoughts, whether of illness, an accident or dying? How long can someone sustain a vicious cycle of thinking that goes “thinking, scared, thinking of someone else so I won’t be scared, do something, anything, to stop myself from thinking about what scares me”? This is a snapshot from a scene in the life of someone who might develop obsessive compulsive disorder.
What is obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)?
For us to better understand what OCD is and to differentiate it from other personal obsessions, first we must underline that it does not bring any pleasure. In contrast to some ritualistic habits we engage in, which might be connected to pleasure or pain, OCD includes an intense amount of pain and anxiety. First, our mind floods us with thoughts that something (usually negative) is going to happen. Then, gradually, an action or behaviour follows, which gives us the illusion that we can “trick danger” and avoid it.
How do the measures against the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus affect our psychology?
It is a beautiful thing to be able to create the conditions for a life we can control. This fills us with a sense of security, especially when these conditions are on the basis of self knowledge and personal development.
Stress can deteriorate one’s phobias and obsessions and, in some cases, can even bring about an obsessive compulsive disorder. It is no surprise that we’ve seen a rise in such cases in recent years, among children, teenagers and adults. We live in the “update” era and we can observe an increase in modern society’s demands on us, leading us to an intense need for relaxation and letting off steam. If this is not done in a productive way, it can become pathological.
The worst observed phenomenon after the financial crisis was the sense of insecurity that spread across every aspect of future life, resulting in fertile ground for a drop in psychology, whether manifested as depression or generalized anxiety disorders. There is no easy solution, especially given that society overturned any expectations the system might have had up until that point, at least within the occupational sector. We saw an astounding increase in suicides in our country, as well as a sharp turn towards prescribing medication for psychological disorders. In the year 2000, 84 people died of psychological disorders, while in 2014 that number had climbed to 669 (ELSTAT). The number of suicides is hard to confirm, as they are often recorded as “other cause of death.” These are facts that are and were never discussed when financial budgets are calculated. Psychology is the last thing to be portrayed as vulnerable in an ailing society.
As the coronavirus brings with it new preventative measures, the ground is now more fertile than ever for a sense of insecurity. A sense of insecurity not just about the future or the job market or prosperity, but for health and life itself. This current situation strikes at the root of our existence. The root of our relationship with ourselves and others.
All the ritualistic instructions against spreading this virus are given with obsessive precision, something that, in the best of cases, leads to anxiety. Imposed social isolation, the sense of seclusion but also the guilt that we feel out of fear of “infecting” or “killing” someone, shakes our sense of independence and freedom, and hence our sense of security. The first kind of obsession, that spread during the first lockdown, was with the news and social media. The second type of obsessions is with that of order, cleanliness, our perception of “infected” and “harmful.” The third type, and the worst type of obsession, hits at the heart of human contact; the sense of touch and subsequently human relationships.
Online addiction is on the rise, we must “stay home” in front of our screens, which have become our whole world, because now we are not allowed to be outside, together, we must do everything in front of a screen, whether literally or metaphorically. Online communication is presented at the safest. Cleanliness and hygiene are now the law. The truth is, that none of the things we must do now are new to us. Respiratory infections are the third most common cause of death around the world. We have been through harder winters and survived. However, now the ways in which we must be careful have increased drastically. The precision with which we must carry out these hygiene rituals have been equated to prevention, otherwise the outcome might be fatal.
We start to observe other people, making sure they too follow the rules. In this regard, we start to police or exercise control over ourselves and others, becoming stricter about what we consider as “clean” and “right.” Control, then, is what we see around us and between us. Human interaction is slowly disappearing. We calculate the distance between us and others, approaching everyone with fear and suspicion. Control, guilt, oppression… a new social mix that will help create billions of panic attacks, worsen our fears and give birth to new obsessions. And, at the first chance, medication will come to the rescue. None of these things are a result of fear mongering. Let us, then, make sure we find ways to avoid them.
If you think that you or someone you know might benefit from a session concerning obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, fear or some other psychological disorder, get in touch to book an appointment.
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These articles are meant to be psycho-educational. They are not meant as a diagnosis or therapy tool. Their aim is to inform and educate. Article source & copyright: Evy Syrou, Cognitive Psychologist | www.evysyrou.gr
