On average, there is a Friday the thirteenth every 212 days. Such a day occurs in any month that begins with a Sunday. Fear of this day has been given the scientific name, “paraskevidekatriaphobia,” from the Greek words for Friday, thirteen, and fear.
By contrast, we don’t yet have a scientific name for “fear of coronavirus,” but that makes such fear no less real. Or less dangerous.
Beware the “bias for threat”
Sophie Trudeau, wife of the Canadian prime minister, has tested positive for coronavirus. The Capitol, White House, and Supreme Court have been closed to the public.
US stocks had their worst day since the 1987 stock market crash. The NCAA canceled its basketball tournaments for the first time in history. All eleven Disney theme parks in North America, Europe, and Asia have been closed. The PGA has canceled the Players Championship and the next three events on the schedule.
These are frightening days, indeed.
One psychologist notes, “Fear influences how we react to media coverage of health hazards.” In times of anxiety, we tend to pay more attention to threat-related information, which drives up our anxiety and distress.
This “bias for threat” can exacerbate our reaction to the disease, leading to panic. And panic is “an irrational fear reaction that, by definition, your body’s reaction and adrenaline response take over from your ability to actually rationally evaluate the situation.”
Cortisol and lymphocytes
Responding appropriately to fear is therefore vital not just for our psychological wellbeing but for our physical health as well.
According to Cleveland Clinic, stress causes our bodies to produce greater levels of the hormone cortisol and can cause anxiety and depression. These can lead to elevated inflammation that can compromise our immune system.
Stress also decreases the body’s lymphocytes—the white blood cells that help fight infection. The…
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