This document discusses the differences between fear and anxiety, characteristics of each, and provides recommendations for managing fear and anxiety related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fear is a reaction to a specific, observable threat while anxiety follows from an unknown or poorly defined threat. Management strategies include keeping informed from trusted sources, maintaining routines, minimizing distressing news, social support, limiting alcohol/drugs, hobbies, meditation, exercise and deep breathing. Precautions for healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients like proper use of PPE and cleaning uniforms are also outlined.

1. Management of Fear and
Anxiety due to COVID -19

2. FEAR: -
It can be defined as an emotion induced by a perceived threat which causes
entities to quickly pull far away from it and usually hide. We can also feel fear
when faced with less dangerous situations, like exams, public speaking, a new
job, a date, or even a party. It is a natural response to something that a person
feels is a threat

3. ANXIETY: -
Anxiety is a feeling of apprehension caused by anticipation of an ill-
defined threat or danger that is not realistically based.

4. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FEAR AND ANXITY
Fear and anxiety often occur together, both contain the idea of danger or
possibility of injury, but these terms are not interchangeable. Even though
symptoms commonly overlap, a person's experience with these emotions differs
based on their context. Fear relates to a known or understood threat,
whereas anxiety follows from an unknown, expected, or poorly defined threat.
Fear is seen as a reaction to a specific, observable danger, (proper definition)
while Anxiety is seen as a diffuse, a kind of unfocused, objectless, future-
oriented fear. Anxiety is also referred to emotional states such as doubt,
boredom, mental conflict, disappointment, and bashfulness.
-(Barlow, 2002).

6. What are the actions and thoughts
characteristics of fear?
run for cover become self-focused and on
high alert.
feels threatened,
Fear revs up the metabolism
pupils dilate and hearing becomes more
acute.
blood flow away from the skin and makes
a frightened person appear pale.
paralyzed.
Anger

7. What are the actions and thoughts
characteristics of anxiety?
A panic attack involves the interaction of the
fear system with inappropriate and maladaptive
learning (i.e. false alarm).
It will also consistently interfere with
performance and enjoyment of life.
When anxiety is excessive it disconnected the
person from reality, it no longer provides an
accurate and reliable signal of danger.
These anxious thoughts are driven by “what if?”
thinking (e.g., “What if I don’t do all my
studies?” or “What if I don’t know anyone?”).

8. Positive side of anxiety
Anxiety can be a source of strength. Anxious temperament can lead
to better job performance. Rollo May (1953, p390) writes: “The
problem of the management of anxiety is that of reducing anxiety to
normal levels, and then to use this normal anxiety as stimulation to
increase one’s awareness, vigilance, zest for living.”

9. Management to reduce anxiety
and fear due to COVID -19
situation
Keep informed. Listen to advice and
recommendations from national and local
authorities. Follow trusted news channels,
such as local and national TV and radio,
and keep up-to-date with the latest news
from @WHO on social media.
Study about COVID-19, its prevention
and mechanism of transmission from
reliable sources example ,WHO

10. Have a routine.
Get up and go to bed at similar times
every day.
Keep up with personal hygiene.
Distract yourself from negative emotions
by listening to music, reading,
Eat healthy meals and drink plenty of
fluids.
Exercise regularly.
Allocate time for working and time for
resting.
Make time for doing things you enjoy.

11. Minimize newsfeeds. Try to reduce how
much you watch, read or listen to news
that makes you feel anxious or distressed.
Seek the latest information at specific
times of the day, once or twice a day if
needed.
Social contact is important. If your
movements are restricted, keep in regular
contact with people close to by telephone
and online channels
Social media. Use social media accounts
to promote positive and hopeful stories.
Correct misinformation wherever you see
it.

12. Screen time. Be aware of how much time
spend in front of a screen every day. Make sure
that you take regular breaks from on-screen
activities.
Alcohol and drug use. Limit the amount of
alcohol drink or don’t drink alcohol at all.
Don’t start drinking alcohol if you have not
drunk alcohol before. Avoid using alcohol and
drugs(dizapam, alprex etc) as a way of dealing
with fear, anxiety, boredom and social isolation.
Help others. If you are residing with other staff
that are caring for COVID clients are on
isolation after that then you can help them by
bringing to them essential stuffs that they can’t
go outside to buy for themselves

13. Support other health workers to help them
reducing their fear and anxiety levels by
talking with them and sharing your
experiences with them
Getting a hobby is an activity or interest
that is undertaken for pleasure or relaxation,
typically done during one's leisure time.eg:
collecting, games, outdoor recreation,
gardening, performing the arts, reading,
cooking etc.
Meditation
Daily Exercise and deep breathing
exercise

15. Precautions to take while caring for COVID-19
CLIENTS
Follow strict personal protective measures
(e.g., mask, handwashing, etc.) Precautions
are required by health care workers to protect
themselves and prevent transmission in the
healthcare setting. Precautions to be
implemented by health care workers caring for
patients with COVID-19 include:
Where possible, staff who have recovered after
having a confirmed case of COVID-19 should
work in cohort areas where there are patients
with the virus.

16. If there is no laundry facility
available in the workplace, nursing
uniforms should be transported
home in a disposable plastic bag
that is then thrown away. Uniforms
should be laundered separately
from other household linen in a
load that is not more than half full
at the maximum temperature the
fabric can tolerate. The uniform
should then be ironed or tumble-
dried.

17. Airborne precautions should be
implemented in clinical areas where there is
aerosol-generating procedure ‘hot spots’,
including intensive care units and high
dependency units (HDU) that are managing
COVID-19 patients. These precautions
include wearing a filtering face piece
respirator and visor.
Proper remove, and dispose of PPE
Try to maintain least contact with the
patient’s surroundings and body fluids.
Avoid going again and again in the patient’s
isolation room