Has Fear Porn Inserted Its Way Into Your Mind?

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If you have not heard of the term "fear porn", it refers to mainstream media content that deliberately and enticingly plays on people's fears about disaster, disease, and death. Yes, there are media outlets that go beyond informing and alerting the public. Media is necessary and important to inform the public and to educate. However, at what point does informing turn into aggressively alarming people? Certain media is “intentionally” trying to panic the public. In a way, they are violating your minds.

While writing this article, I did a simple Google search of “recent Coronavirus news reports.” The first random five headlines had the words, “death toll rising”, “new infections”, and “thousands of COVID cases, hundreds of deaths.” Those were the first five. Also, it is May of 2021, a full 14 months since the beginning of the pandemic. Absolutely nothing reassuring, hopeful, or non-alarming.

What is the human mind supposed to do with this? These words will put people into a fight, flight, freeze response and will activate the amygdala. Perhaps, people’s minds can tolerate this reaction for a brief amount of time. However, these words have been thrust at people relentlessly for more than 14 months now? What happens when the amygdala is activated for a prolonged period of time?

I actually wrote about what I feared would happen to people back in April of 2020 (See: Can Coronavirus Health Behaviors Trigger OCD?). I discussed the risks associated with doing too many compulsive or protective behaviors for a prolonged period of time. My opinion then was that those who had a predisposition to OCD could be triggered into clinical OCD.

What is the psychological effect that this can have on you and your loved ones? I have noticed the impact that the over-use of media has on my clients, especially for the anxiety and OCD communities. For example, I still have clients that "compulsively" check the coronavirus numbers and are still not leaving their house. For some, even if the policies and rules in their state have changed, they are unable to move forward. They are psychologically "stuck" in their Coronavirus protective behaviors.

If the media had a "hand" in alarming people to the point that they are now stuck. Does the media have an obligation to try and help people to become unstuck? Sadly, the answer appears to be no. Even more upsetting, the media is actually still doing plenty to keep people in a state of panic. In my clinical opinion, this is extremely damaging and unhealthy for the mental health of my clients and the public.

Here are some ways to help correct or prevent mental health consequences from the “fear porn” industry:

1. Limit or get rid of your media intake. This includes social media, which is filled with plenty of strangers and “friends” trying to persuade and terrorize you.
2. Once you have limited media, use that time to go outside in the sun and walk or run. Exercise can help reduce your stress levels. Also, responsible sun exposure has been proven to help with some psychological conditions.
3. Refuse to get into conversations with anyone regarding what they saw or heard that was terrifying on the news. Simply explain to everyone that you will be using your own judgment to “protect” yourself as opposed to all the unknown reporters in the world.
4. Definitely get help immediately if you are unable to function socially or occupationally. Programs are available and are useful when trying to desensitize yourself, to have a quality of life.