How to live with your fear of deconfinement?

For some it is a long-awaited relief, but for others the deconfinement awakens anxieties that were latent until then.

If some were looking forward to it, deconfinement can also be the source of real stress which raises concerns about the coronavirus, in particular the fear of being contaminated. Under these conditions, returning to work can become an ordeal that can lead to panic.

Is it always a good idea to listen to your fear?

Fear is an essential emotion that tells us about the presence of danger. It is one of the main emotions, allowing us to survive and take quick steps to escape a situation that could be perilous.

It is therefore a legitimate emotion, which protects us and which notably triggers adrenaline in order to quickly find the necessary energy. It can therefore be manifested by an acceleration of the heart rate, hot flashes, the feeling of suffocation or of having a stomach ache.

However, fear can be triggered irrationally and become omnipresent in our minds to the point of phobia, that is to say the impossibility of apprehending it otherwise.

Is the fear of deconfinement rational?

With deconfinement, it is the unknown who worries the most. Fear of a second wave, lack of trust and suspicion towards others increase fear and can even trigger real hypochondria, that is to say the irrational idea that everything can be a source of contamination and therefore of danger.

Rather than fighting against your fear, it is better to rationalize it with positive thoughts and above all work on the feeling of confidence and security. This can be the case by properly applying the protective measures, by obtaining information from official and scientifically validated sources of information, but also by accepting that this is a temporary and exceptional situation.

Find out more: “Psychology of fear”, by Christophe André, Odile Jacob editions.