As soon as the World Health Organisation (WHO) named Omicron (B .1 .1 .529), a variant of concern, panic gripped the world as global leaders quickly began to take measures to limit its spread. Travelling restrictions are being imposed and scientists are racing to gather more data about the new COVID-19 variant. The big question on everyone’s mind is the efficacy of the current vaccines against Omicron. So far, the variant has been detected in Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Britain, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands and South Africa, according to a report.
There is so much uncertainty around what’s going to happen that people are understandably starting to feel anxious. Jobs could be at risk, the elderly and children could be vulnerable to the new variant, and many of us who are just returning to our “normal lives” may have to readjust to the rules of the pandemic yet again. What’s more, the thought of keeping ourselves updated with the latest statistics and new emergency guidelines can be mentally exhausting.
After living for almost two years in uncertainty and fear, 2022 was being touted as a new beginning in the post-pandemic world. The collective hope was for things to come back to normal. It was time to restore the balance between work and personal life and put the pandemic behind us. But Omicron has crashed the party, or so it may seem. It can bring back the fear that had kept us awake at night. This begs the question: Are we going to relive the nightmare that we thought was over? Will 2022 begin like 2020 did? Maybe, maybe not.
What will happen is not in our hands, but how we respond to it is. So, how do you combat all this stress and stay calm in the face of this new variant?
Get your facts right
Oftentimes, the source of all our stress is the fake news that we tend to believe in. We take measures to protect ourselves believing the information to be true. Only to find out later that it’s not. This increases our stress and makes it nearly impossible to stay calm. The thing is there is so much misformation out there that it can be really difficult to separate fact from fiction. To handle the uncertainty around Omicron, the first thing we need to do is to get our facts right. This can be done by visiting a reliable source of information. That means visiting the official websites of trusted organisations such as WHO, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other government-authorised sources. Having the right information keeps us up-to-date, which allows us to stay prepared for what’s to come and not panic.
Don’t give in to fearmongering
Fearmongering is an act of deliberately arousing public fear or alarm about a particular issue. At one point or another, we’ve all been its victim. According to Nature, in 2020, “wild conspiracy theories about Bill Gates and the coronavirus began sprouting online. Gates, the Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist who has funded efforts to control the virus with treatments, vaccines and technology, had himself created the virus, argued one theory.”
This is what fearmongering is all about. Conspiracy theories are created to spread fear among people, which causes restlessness and stress. Chances are a few theories regarding Omicron are already out there. It’s up to us to understand that not every information that is circulating on the internet is the truth. We need to be wise while we are consuming information and not give in to fearmongering.
Stay in touch with family and friends
Nothing brings more comfort than the feeling of being with our loved ones. To know that we are not alone makes the journey a little easier. We feel safe knowing someone is there looking out for us. In case, one feels overwhelmed due to the uncertainty that the future may bring, talking about it can lessen their load. Hence, a good way to remain calm in difficult times is to stay connected with our friends and family.
Getting accurate information from reliable sources helps us stay prepared, reduce panic, and make informed decisions.
Fearmongering spreads misinformation and creates unnecessary fear and stress. By not giving in to fearmongering, we can maintain a calmer mindset.
Staying connected with family and friends provides comfort, support, and a sense of security, helping us navigate uncertainty with greater calm.
Excessive news consumption can be emotionally draining and negatively impact mental health. Limiting news intake helps maintain balance and reduce stress levels.
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