Overstimulation during pandemic
23 march 2020
Social media is now an indispensable part of our lives, both in the sphere of information, culture and entertainment. Everyone uses them, regardless of age. However, excessive as well as improper use, may affect us negatively, especially during the announced pandemic.
Recently, coronavirus has been the leitmotif on the radio, television, all news portals and social media. Taking into account that on 11 March the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that COVID-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 could be considered a pandemic, we should not be surprised by the mass of news in the media and on the internet.
In addition, our friends and friends of friends send various content and memes with latest news. If we don't take care of informational hygiene, we can fall victim to overstimulation. The amount of external impulses and data that we currently absorb may exceed our body's adaptability. This, in turn, can have consequences not only such as worse mood, but in the long run also reduced immunity. Therefore, avoiding overstimulation is extremely important.
Let's try to limit the number of websites viewed and notifications in social media. Let's mute the sound of incoming messages. Let's focus on other activities to give the brain time to rest and digest the information provided previously. Bear in mind that total isolation from information is also not good, because it can cause growing fear.
We must be aware that when the flow of information is too fast, the brain loses the ability to select it. Thus, we become susceptible to manipulation and believe in everything we read.
Fake news is a message intended to mislead the recipient. It is not true, nor is it a lie. Fake news is usually based on misinformation or joke, often containing real elements. The technological development makes information, including fake news, rapidly penetrate the society, and it seems impossible to stop misinformation on the web. Let's use the Internet to verify its content. (More about fake news: https://cik.uke.gov.pl/en/newsroom1/fake-news-meaning-false-truth,53.html)
If we want to use reliable sources of information on coronavirus and COVID-19 disease, it is worth looking at the governmental profiles of the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), Ministry of Health (Facebook, Twitter), as well as WHO (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok ).
Let's remember that a healthy head is a healthy body.