"Imagined Covid"
- Nqoba Maryln Sibenke
- Jan 12, 2021
- 4 min read
Research has linked the occurrence of Pandemics with spikes in mental health challenges. This is a result of the fear, uncertainty and depression that are associated with pandemics. One overlooked aspect of mental health that is linked to pandemics is Psychosomatic illness.
According to the Cambridge dictionary Psychosomatic refers to illness " (of an illness) caused by anxiety and worry and not by an infection or injury:" In simpler terms it refers to disease aggravated by stress or anxiety. Nancy Schimelpfening comments:"A psychosomatic illness originates from or is aggravated by emotional stress and manifests in the body as physical pain and other symptoms." This means that stress can lead to symptoms of disease real or imagined.
The recent novel Covid-19 is not an exception to Psychosomatic illness.In this article I discuss briefly on Covid-19 and Psychosomatic symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that like any other new disease Covid-19 has raised fear and anxiety among citizens. The control procedures like lock-down and isolation further worsen the situation as individuals are deprived of social support and in some cases sources of finance are out of reach.
Loneliness is a leading cause of depression and anxiety so is financial instability. The rise of social media has also been cited as a cause of depression. A number of studies have examined how social media contributes to depression among teens and young adults. Several results have shown a correlation between excessive social media use and high levels of depression. In the wake of Covid-19 social media has been used as a communication tool to relay information on the Pandemic. While this development is a positive assert in fast communication, it also has negative psychological effects, especially as far as Psychosomatic illness is concerned.
Michael Wheaton et al. (2012) in his research “Psychological Predictors of Anxiety in Response to the H1N1 (Swine Flu) Pandemic.” found that Pandemics receive high publicity and this is related to high levels of anxiety and depression. As people are daily confronted by the statistics they become anxious about their safety and well-being. Besides statics , social media is an effective communicator on the signs and symptoms of the Pandemic. While this is a positive avenue for educational purposes it also poses a challenge which favors Psychosomatic illness.
Wheaton concluded that widely publicized Pandemics often lead to self-diagnosis. This is true in the current situation. Once an individual experiences one or two symptoms of Covid-19 they are bound to self-diagnose. Self-diagnosis leads to anxiety and this feeds the psychosomatic symptoms and the individuals become very sick. In cases where individuals suspect contact with affected persons, psychosomatic symptoms are highly likely to occur. Front-line workers, vulnerable groups and individuals with underlying conditions are more likely to experience Covid-19 related psychosomatic symptoms.
Although Psychosomatic illness is not physically contagious it has social effects on the family and close contacts they too can be affected by the same condition. Imagine an individual experiencing Covid 19 related psychosomatic symptoms and how that would impact close contacts. How can one know if they have Psychosomatic illness?Symptoms of somatization are broad and varied they range from the common "butterflies in stomach" sensation to shortness of breath. A study which focused on a population which presented the following symptoms chest pain, fatigue,dizziness, headache, edema, back pain, shortness of breath insomnia, abdominal pain, numbness, impotence weight loss, cough, and constipation found that only 16% were a result of infection or a virus. One way to tell is when you have consistent anxiety about the disease, engage in obsessive compulsive behavior like compulsive washing and sanitizing.
However the best way to settle your mind with Covid-19 might be to go for a test. In some cases somatic patients may feel that the test is not accurate when it presents a negative as they are sure they have the virus. This is where counseling and therapy come into play.
A review of studies suggests the efficiency of Cognitive Behavior Therapy in dealing with the illness. Self-help strategies and self-care can be employed in dealing with the physical symptoms. It should be noted that the symptoms are not necessarily imagined but they are very real.We will discuss how stress causes real physical symptoms in later articles.
One of my favorite authors comments on this topic:
"Disease is sometimes produced, and is often greatly aggravated, by the imagination. Many are lifelong invalids who might be well if they only thought so. Many imagine that every slight exposure will cause illness, and the evil effect is produced because it is expected.Many die from disease the cause of which is wholly imaginary." The Ministry of Healing, 241
Research has proved the truth of this statement. This is a call to us to cultivate healthy minds, to learn how to manage stress and Anxiety especially in this crucial period when we are faced with disease and death all around us. Let us preserve our sanity and preserve our
physical health.
SOURCES
Wheaton, Michael G., Jonathan S. Abramowitz, Noah C. Berman, Laura E. Fabricant, and Bunmi O. Olatunji. 2012. “Psychological Predictors of Anxiety in Response to the H1N1 (Swine Flu) Pandemic.” Cognitive Therapy and Research 36 (3): 210–18. doi:10.1007/s10608-011-9353-3.
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