Hypochondriacs

This is a time when we are all worried about our health, but this feeling is magnified for those suffering from health anxiety.  The best way to understand how a hypochondriac feels during this time is to listen to what they have to say, and Maryam Nassif is willing to share her thoughts with Jessica Morgan of Refinery29.(1) Here's what she has to say. https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/2020/02/9470413/coronavirus-health-anxiety
 

 I kept repeating to myself that the flu kills more people and that the virus is not that big of a deal.

When analyzing this quote it is important to note that this was said in late February of 2020, a time when even less was known about COVID-19. Even now, it is difficult to compare the death rates of the two diseases. Currently, COVID-19 has accrued approximately 206,000 deaths worldwide, compared to the range of 291,000 to 646,000 per flu season worldwide. (2) Although these numbers may seem to downplay COVID-19, the disease is also much more infectious than the flu and it does not have a vaccine. Due to these circumstances it is reasonable to assume the death toll of the virus will rise. So although the flu has technically killed more people, COVID-19 is still a very big deal.

I make sure to spray my coat, bags, shoes and dirty clothes with antibacterial spray after I come home every night. I wash my hands every 10 minutes. I never touch my face.

Although washing hands and avoiding touching of the face are proven methods against COVID-19, antibacterial materials are not. Most supplies that are anti-bacterial, like hand sanitizer, contain alcohol that can destroy the virus. If a spray is strictly antibacterial than it may not be useful to use against COVID-19. On the other hand, Maryam could be referring to disinfectant spray instead, which can be helpful.

I've had to mute every news outlet on my phone and laptop and I still can't avoid it. People are posting about it on their Instagram Stories, it's in the newspapers. It's everywhere.

Whenever a crisis occurs, the media's coverage of it is always put under criticism. Personally, I agree with this sentiment. Coverage of COVID-19 is so widespread that even by completely ignoring the news it is unavoidable. For example, I recently had to correct some incorrect facts about COVID-19 that my ex-girlfriend put on her snapchat story. The coverage is everywhere and is nearly impossible to ignore, the normal person likely would not mind too much but a hypochondriac like Maryam is constantly in a sense of impending doom.

I know it's important to spread awareness but it's anxiety-inducing. There's a constant feeling of inescapability and it gets too much, and not just for those who suffer from health anxiety.

There is nothing like a pandemic to turn everyone into a hypochondriac. When humans are in danger, stressed or anxious, they are going to be naturally more aware of minor bodily dysfunctions that are just random daily issues. (3) So, during a pandemic anyone can be driven to anxiety by the constant coverage of information that they start to question these minor bodily functions and if they are symptoms of something greater. 

 A recent YouGov survey found that 60% of British people see coronavirus as a major or moderate threat to the country. For those dealing with  health anxiety, it can feel like a nightmare.

Seeing the very root of one's anxiety take over the world can be terrifying since anxiety disorders are difficult enough to manage on their own. This is the claim Jessica Morgan uses before she introduces Maryam. Morgan does a good job here of humanizing hypochondriacs and making the audience feel sympathetic for them. The survey she sites is accurate and is used to show how many people are as worried about the pandemic as a hypochondriac would be.

Analysis

When thinking about the different kinds of people affected by COVID-19, an interesting perspective to ponder is that of hypochondriacs. The reason for this is because, at this point in time, the general public is more likely than ever to act like hypochondriacs and assume they have COVID-19 even if they barely show any symptoms. This is the prime subject of the article by Jessica Morgan. The article is formatted as the author framing Maryam's perspective to make her appear more sympathetic. The hypochondriac perspective is portrayed by Maryam Nassif, a 22-year-old student with health anxiety living in London. Maryam, and likely other hypochondriacs, view COVID-19 as a terrifying, unstoppable threat. So she takes ever precaution she can to avoid catching the disease, she does this simply because she is scared of getting sick, and possibly dying. This feeling applies to most of the general populace during the pandemic but her feelings are magnified due to her health anxiety. Maryam values her health and the health of those around her, her goal in this situation is to avoid getting sick under almost any means. She does not care if she wastes all of her money on unnecessary purchases that will supposedly help her immune system, as long as she feels safe from the virus. To Maryam, COVID-19 is a boogeyman, an invisible threat that will always keep her feeling vulnerable. Every time she sees a new statistic or news coverage, she can feel that boogeyman approaching her and she starts to panic, in fact, symptoms of health anxiety are similar to those that maintain a panic disorder. (4) 

This article was written to give the general public insight into what it is like to have health anxiety during a pandemic. The publishers, Refinery29, did this by asking Maryam for her perspective so that they can put it on their website. The publishers understood that it was important to spread the hypochondriac perspective during this time so they can have the general public sympathize with the perspective before they start blaming individuals with health anxiety for hoarding medical supplies and toilet paper.

The facts that matter to hypochondriacs are statistics, this is because at times statistics can soothe their anxiety, for example, comparing the number of COVID-19 deaths so far to flu deaths this year can help reassure a hypochondriac that COVID-19 is not as dangerous as the media tends to show it is. But other statistics can make a hypochondriac's health anxiety worse. To them, staying updated with statistics is a way for them to process how exactly the virus is spreading and what they should do in their lives about it. That being said, what hypochondriacs like Maryam do in their lives to prevent COVID-19 often serve as excellent examples on how the public should behave. Maryam is overly cautious, rarely leaves her home, and completely disinfects her clothes at the end of the day. Her efforts to stay safe during a pandemic can spread to her friends and family so that they too can be extra cautious to not spread the disease. This is not unique knowledge per se, but rather a specific attitude that could be valuable in stopping COVID-19. On the other hand, people like Maryam could benefit from knowledge involving why they should not horde materials or perform other actions of overcaution that are more dangerous to the public than helpful.

The article does not specifically address what sources Maryam trusts or distrusts, but rather it addresses how the constant coverage of COVID-19 in the media is making her anxiety worse. Given this information, it can be inferred that Maryam likely trusts most sources that share information on COVID-19 despite th fact that she does not want to listen to them. This is because if she did not trust them and thought that the information they shared was wrong, then listening to them would not make her anxiety worse. She has to believe a source for it to make her even more scared of her boogeyman. Comparatively, Maryam likely does not trust normal people right now because she does not want to get the virus from anyone that she views as being careless.

Maryam is likely to find companionship with anyone else that has health anxiety because they can relate to each other. She would also collaborate with doctors and health workers because she would do what she can to stop the spread of the virus. But she would likely be at odds with ordinary people, simply because a hypochondriac is more likely to horde supplies than the average person so people could be angry with hypochondriacs for that. Additionally, she would be at odds with ordinary people because as stated earlier she cannot trust a normal person to be cautious enough to not spread the virus. 

This perspective is an important one to think about because we live in a time when health anxiety is very relatable. We are all worried about our health and the health of our loved ones right now. So follow Maryam's example and be cautious, it's the best way to protect yourself.

References

1. Morgan, J. (2020, February 27). "It Feels Apocalyptic": How Coronavirus Has Left Me Fearing For My Life. Refinery29. Retrieved from https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/2020/02/9470413/coronavirus-health-anxiety

2. Maragakis, L. L. (2020, April 26). Coronavirus Disease 2019 vs. the Flu. John Hopkins Medicine. Retrieved from
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/coronavirus-disease-2019-vs-the-flu

3. Britt, R. R. (2020, March 23). Am I a hypochondriac, or is this coronavirus? Elemental. Retrieved from https://elemental.medium.com/am-i-a-hypochondriac-or-is-this-coronavirus-7ba6dca0b9a7

4. Olatunji, B., Deacon, B., & Abramowitz, J. (2009). Is hypochondriasis an anxiety disorder? British Journal of Psychiatry, 194(6), 481-482. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.108.061085