"FEAR vs CONTROL COLUMNS" for POLIO SURVIVORS *

     Back in 1985 we discovered that polio survivors were Super Type A: driven, anxious, controlling perfectionists. A few years later we discovered why. Having had polio, plus the draconian ways it was dealt with -- including isolation and quarantine -- were the ideal circumstances to create anxious and controlling Type A perfectionists.

     Today a virus once again has polio survivors isolated and afraid, television and the Internet continuously providing terrifying but conflicting and uncertain information about the chance of catching COVID-19 and when the quarantine will be over. How could the repetition of isolation and helplessness as happened during the polio epidemics not fuel sometimes-overwhelming fear in polio survivors?

" FEAR vs CONTROL COLUMNS " 

     With that said, it might help to turn off the TV, take a deep breath and write down “Fear columns” and “Control columns” listing the reality of your fears and what you already are doing to take control of your own life . . .  

FEAR COLUMNS:

List your FEARS and next to them the LIKELIHOOD of each becoming a REALITY:                                               

        Fear                                                                   Reality

Starving to Death                                                    Won't Happen

Losing Medicare/Medicaid, SSI/SSDI                  Won't Happen

Losing Connection with Everyone                        Highly Unlikely

Not Getting Needed Medication                            Very Unlikely

Not Getting Needed Medical Attention                Unlikely

Broken Assistive Device (e.g., Wheelchair, Bi-Pap)     Possible

Unable to Buy Toilet Paper                                    Likely                                           

 

CONTROL COLUMNS:

List each thing you're doing to TAKE CONTROL and PROTECT YOURSELF and HOW OFTEN you are doing them: 

      Control                                                              Reality

Self-Distancing                                                  90% of the time

Staying At Home                                                  95% of the time

Washing Hands After Being Outside                     100% of the time

Visiting People With COVID symptoms                   0% of the time

Watching TV News                                                80% of the time                                                                

    Looking at the columns, you can see how unlikely terrible outcomes are, how much you already are taking control to protect yourself and where you may need to make changes to prepare for problems (e.g., finding a wheelchair repair person) and take better care of yourself (e.g., turning off the TV).

    List your own FEARS and their LIKELIHOOD and things you are doing to TAKE CONTROL so fear doesn’t control you. (And turn off the TV news!)

*Note: this was written early in the COVID pandemic. Having reviewed it in 2023, I can see that the concepts remain the same to help manage fear - regardless of the circumstance.

Richard L. Bruno, HD, PhD

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