How do we make sense of COVID-19 without getting CANCELDT?

Is there a ‘correct’ way of saying it without getting crucified?

What is COVID-19?

…if it’s God’s blessing for humanity to pause and become closer, Press 1 …if it’s a virus, a pandemic, Press 2 …if it’s a time to be productive and workout, Press 3 …if it’s Earth healing and recovering, Press 4 …if it’s natural selection, a way of cleansing the world, Press 5 …if it’s all a lie, a made-up thing by world governments to dictate how we live our lives, Press 6

The list goes on. And most likely, choosing certain options there could mean pushing the wrong buttons for others. And the only point why these have to be enumerated is to demonstrate, whether one likes it or not, that there are varying interpretations for different types of people when it comes to understanding the 2019 novel-coronavirus.

Most of the examples mentioned are, in psychology, rationalization. It’s a defense mechanism humans use when there is an unexplainable experience, and they have to break it down to something seemingly rational or logical. “Seemingly” because it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the objective truth.

This article does not aim to give a scientific definition. To know the facts, you should rely on reputable organizations in the health and sciences.

So what is COVID-19? The question is rhetorical and requires people to look inward and let their honest interpretations out.

Most would feel guilty of saying them out loud. The hesitation is understandable. Other people’s opinions on the matter got them cancelled. But what about self-expression?

Some are coming from the religious community claiming that this is God’s gift for us; it gave us the moment of silence the world needed to reflect and pray.

Some push for maximizing the time to be productive. There are no longer any reasons to not do that home workout.

Some say Mother Earth is very happy with what’s happening as factory production and transportation have been halted, significantly reducing global Co2 emissions.

This next statement is going to be controversial and will most likely prompt many to click-out.

These interpretations are valid and are even helpful FOR the people who are saying these. These are their coping mechanism. The only problem is that theirs have been aired out in public and were packaged as a truth for all.

Unless it’s a categorically baseless claim and runs against the facts — like the COVID-19 is biological warfare invented by people which doesn’t have enough substantive evidence yet — people should be allowed to express how they are making sense of the situation because this is how they get their calm and resolve in the global crisis.

Granting that these varying outlooks are under the lenses of privileges that shield them from the actual horrors of the pandemic, how they cope will, of course, be reliant on the available resources they have on their current environment.

In psychotherapy or counselling sessions, you will stumble upon the term “meaning-making”. It’s when one shares what their experiences mean for them. Yes, it might seem just a fancy synonym for description, definition, explanation. But when you describe, define, explain something, it seems direct and instant — like something is out there already, you just need to point it out.

Meaning-making requires people to dig deep and pull out those thoughts and make meaning out of them. We do it all the time. We put meaning into things in ways that make sense to us, comfort us, and align with our values, especially when something immense and overwhelming is beyond our comprehension. It’s far more common than most would think.

That mysterious flying object we saw last night.

That rare but beautiful butterfly that stayed on your shoulder as you mourn a loved one’s death.

That last episode of Game of Thrones.

Understandably so, a pandemic is just too real and too much for any to handle. It’s the first time this generation, and even the few ones that came before had something with this magnitude and lasting impact. There’s a very small number of people living today who can share their experience with the Spanish flu.

And therefore, human beings make meaning out of this, in whatever way that gives them a grasp of what’s happening. If it’s not based on science or facts or objective reality, that is the human in us applying some “meaning-making”.

The problem in the subjective interpretation of the pandemic is when a personal understanding of the COVID-19 phenomenon appears as a passive-aggressive suggestion or an unfair imposition. When you give out blanket statements of what COVID-19 is and what people should do with it, this is where toxic positivity likely happens.

But what exactly is a toxic positive statement? If one shares something positive, light-hearted, or not related to the fight against COVID-19, are these people toxic optimists?

No.

But when they used the words like should, always, every time, must, and all; applied with a tone of command; and aired out to the general public, they’d think they’re saying something good and harmless but they are actually invalidating some people’s experience. Many people are suffering, exhausted, and depressed because they don’t have the same set of privileges.

Someone crippled by anxiety will end up feeling more guilty upon hearing ‘People are using this quarantine as an excuse to be lazy.’

Someone working in the frontline, witnessing the crisis firsthand will be offended by conspiracy theories claiming that the pandemic isn’t real.

Someone whose friend succumbed to the virus will find ‘This is a blessing from God,’ severely insulting.

Making sense of the situation on social media must be done so delicately. People can speak their truth that is only within the context of their personal experience. If for an apparent reason, one feels the urge to address the COVID-19 crisis for public consumption, it would always be better to not deny the facts and realities of the problematic situation. Acknowledging the privileges that allow one to have a degree of normalcy, would always dispel the triggers others have on social ignorance.

But the one sure way of avoiding all these troubles? Apply meaning-making privately, within one’s safe space — discuss this with close friends and relatives, find a support or interest group, do some journaling, and have that internal dialogue. There seems to be too much effort and sensitivity required in crafting a public message. That’s because it’s the dominant social narrative the world needs right now. Self-care is important but don’t cut the line to the rest of the world. One can always connect and reach out. Whenever you can, please answer the call, any call.

Andrew Beso is a Manila-based content creator who is exploring different ways of sharing art — whether it be written, spoken, and visualized. Aside from being in Medium, his work can also be seen on Youtube, Instagram, and Tiktok.

He is using his undergraduate and master’s degree in Economics and Political Economy, respectively, in discussing social issues through creative expressions.