‘Fear should be there but not fear psychosis’

Principal Correspondent ;

Number of novel coronavirus cases is on the rise as expected. Most people shout about the rising number of coronavirus cases. But they actually don’t follow the guidelines issued by Ministry of Health time-to-time. They only express fear. Fear is ok but fear psychosis means loss of contact with reality. Fear has no attachment with reality. So how one should deal with this fear psychosis? With this question ‘The Hitavada’ approached people from different fields to know their views about fear psychosis that has erupted during the pandemic situation. Brigadier P K G Mishra who is now in Hyderabad is a soldier by heart. How the soldier overcomes fear psychosis? Brigadier Mishra said, “Soldier has to be fearless and at the same time he can’t be fool hardy.

He should be prepared to fight. I would categorise the present pandemic in four. There are people who have locked themselves. They are neither coming out, nor taking precautions. They say, they would go out once COVID-19 pandemic is over. Other category is of flight. The people are vanishing away from the place where the danger is more. For example, if cases are more in Nagpur then they would move to Wardha where coronavirus positive cases are less in number.” Elaborating further Brigadier Mishra said, “There is third category who are fighters. These fighters are taking all precautions and fighting against coronavirus. There is a fourth category of freight. They are not fighting, nor coming out, nor going away and not taking precaution.

They are frightened. In defence, the leader has to lead from the front. He cannot let soldiers face the enemy asking them to fight. The fighting should take place with all preparations.” Dr Aarti Mitra, noted Surgeon and Professor of Surgery in Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) has to operate with coronavirus that has gripped the city. Her husband Dr Sajal Mitra is Dean of GMCH. The couple can’t go away from the virus. In fact, they have to counsel others in their respective position. As Dr Sajal Mitra is more exposed to the virus, Dr Aarti Mitra carries the fear whether he would test positive for coronavirus. But she has to overcome it.

“Though our routine has changed for the last six months, we both along with our son Rachit are aware of one thing - we have to fight with this dreaded virus. We are taking utmost precautions. Apart from wearing masks and maintaining physical distance, we are trying to bring maximum discipline in our life,” pointed out Dr Aarti Mitra. According to Dr Aarti Mitra, fear is there and it should be there. “Without fear, people would act as per their whims and fancies. Mind well, the infectivity of this virus is fast. At the same time we don’t need to press the panic button but we have to act as responsible citizens. Nowadays, we don’t have our dinner together at home. We, in family, have our food separately, wear mask even when at home. Everybody need not do that at least at homes but since our exposure to the virus is more so we have to be little careful.

The people are testing positive, but we can not ignore the improving recovery rate. The fact can’t be ignored. If people take proper diet, do regular exercise, don’t get addicted, then they would experience good immunity. This immunity can save them. People should focus on these things instead of shouting corona-corona all the time,” advised Dr Mitra. Dr B K Swain is the Head, Post Graduate Department of Sociology, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU) talks of a social angle. He opposes the word social distancing.

“Social Distancing is a wrong word. Are we frightened to the extent that we don’t wish to have social connections with one another? We should follow physical distancing and not social. Secondly, people need to educate about this virus. There are several myths get viral on social media. These myths create unnecessary fear among people. We need to educate people about their behaviour in the society. Nagpur has registered good recovery rate. People testing positive would recover one day is one argument but if the recovery is more, then is it not good thing. Corona is here to stay but how we take it is the real issue. Instead of living with fear, one should fight with fear by taking all precautions. Living with fear is like living like a dead man. We have to choose how to live?”