Cambridge dictionary defines panic as "a
sudden, strong feeling of anxiety or fear that prevents reasonable thought and
action and may spread to influence many people."
Anxiety can be caused by real or imaginary
perceptions of threat and harm. Panic is also a type of fear triggered by our
perceptions. Perceptions that trigger panic may be present or absent.
In addition, panic is especially undesirable
because it prevents people from thinking or acting rationally. Panic
impairs their ability to rationally think and act.
Panic drives many people to explore tips about
healthy living, avoiding, or managing Covid that are available all over
the internet out of panic.
There are many factors that cause panic during the pandemic. First, we are isolated by lockdowns, social distancing, fear of death,
the loss of friends, etc. Suddenly, our support systems have disappeared, and
we are forced to live in our own cocoons.
Related to this is the lack of access to whatever gave us meaning, enjoyment, and purpose in life. Imagine driving down to the favorite coffee place after a busy day only to be greeted by the closed sign. Or the seats are limited. You return dejected. Coffee made at home is never good as the one at the coffee house, moreover, we miss the crowd and the ambience of the place as well.
As the Cambridge Dictionary states, panic "may
spread to influence many people". You might have guessed the reason people who panic turn to social media such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. They
cannot control their fear without spreading it to others.
Initially, work from home (WFH) was welcomed with
enthusiasm. But boredom developed due to WFH's social isolation. The result of
boredom is to engage in useless activities that only provide us with wrong
pleasure. We often use social media as a way of escaping boredom by forwarding
things even before we open them. This is fun for people. Some people beat
boredom by posting or sharing on social media like Facebook, Instagram, or
YouTube. Watching the growing number of likes and shares gives an adrenaline
rush much greater than that of a large Cappuccino.
There is a flipside as well. Everyone is so busy
posting (like you do) that they don't have time to read or like your post. The lack of likes
and shares may also cause you to dip into depression. The dwindling number of
likes and shares may be perceived as rejection, so you give the world a reason
to remind you that you are not as popular as you thought. It hurts when ego is deflated as a punctured balloon.
How can we avoid panic and boredom? We must first
recognize that we are not in control of our own lives. In fact, we cannot
prevent many things from happening. For instance, the Corona Virus. There is no point panicking over things beyond our control. It is not to accept
it as fate that we will suffer. Instead, it is to realize that God is in charge.
Second, we must recognize the reason for our
existence. We do not exist for mere pleasure. Heaven is our goal, and we don't
seek earthly pleasure to sustain our lives. "Joy of the Lord" means
we draw pleasure from God's presence in our lives and looking forward to what
is waiting for us in heaven. A worldview such as this provides an immunity to boredom
caused by an absence of earthly pleasures.
Additionally, the advice is to stay calm, don't panic! Make sure you are not spreading your panic to others through your social
media accounts. That would be a great service to humanity. Give yourself some time
to make rational decisions before reacting.
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(Photo courtesy: Glyn Nelson licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)