Fear is a strong weapon
These days Fear is used for marketing anything that you want to sell. When there are gaps in the information and uncertainty of the unknown this is where fear starts creeping in. Social media is a convenient tool to spread fear, about anything and everything, whether it is about health, politics, or any area of life. During the times of Covid, a lot of people started putting up content on food and lifestyle, everyone came up with their own opinions of right and wrong. I must admit that I too started following up some of these Naturopaths, but soon realized that they demonized almost everything, and tried to prove that their way of life was right.
These days it is about Trump, every few days he comes up with something or the other, with unclarity and that starts spreading fear, just like the H1B visa issue for the Indians which was there couple of months back. Fear is the manufactured emotion which is shaping up our world. Have you observed whenever the Government comes up with any announcement, the first reaction from the people is fearful, because over a period of time we have come to believe that anything that the government does is wrong. So, whenever there is anything coming from there is a psychological reaction of fear. I know in my Country when there is a broadcast that the Prime Minister is going to make an announcement at a certain time and everyone must listen, the first reaction of the people is, Oh God what will it be again, what's the disaster coming through again.
The media plays a big role; they keep repeating it again and again till the time the lies actually become the truth and get us in the grip of fear. During Covid time there was fear of vaccines, quarantines, medicines and everything. I too do not support vaccines but I must admit that I too did heavily flow into those emotions, but then over a period of time, I realized that some of the things were needed, may be the approach was not right, but then to do something at that mass level probably that was the approach best thought of. The fear of Covid vaccines was spread out so much that people started demonizing all the other vaccines as well, which to an extent is not correct. There are many vaccines which have been useful. I too had some radical views on this but with lot of study on it, I have come to understanding that not all of it is bad.
I have never been in favor of allopathy medicines and want to completely avoid them, but at the same time, I accept that for certain health conditions there is no alternative to allopathy medicines and one must not be that foolish to not take it. I lost one of my friends to cancer because of this. She got into holistic treatment and only wanted to treat herself with diet and lifestyle, but her cancer was too aggressive to respond to those mild forms of treatments and it killed her. This is only because there is constant fear of allopathy medicines spread out that they are harmful and some people refuse to take it in any condition. They may have side effects but sometimes you do not have a choice and you have to understand where to give up.
Knowledge is the tool to fight against fear; ignorance leads you more and more in to believing what is being repeated again and again and this can be coming from any side. Not all conspiracy theorists are legit and giving out true information.
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@nainaztengra, this is a powerfully insightful post! Your exploration of how fear is manufactured and manipulated in today's world, especially through social media and during events like the pandemic, really resonates. I appreciate your vulnerability in sharing your own journey of navigating these fears, particularly regarding vaccines and healthcare choices.
The point about knowledge being the antidote to fear is crucial. It's so important to critically assess information and avoid blindly following narratives, no matter where they originate. Your friend's experience with cancer is a poignant reminder of the need for balance and informed decision-making.
Thank you for sharing your perspective and encouraging us to think critically about the emotions that shape our world. This is a conversation we all need to be having! I'm curious, what are some strategies you've found helpful in overcoming fear-based thinking?