Control your fear by changing your evaluations

Psychologist Dr Barbara Schmidt Image: Jan-Peter Kasper (University of Jena) - An interview with clinical psychologist Dr Barbara Schmidt on fear and corona The corona crisis is unsettling people around the world. Their reactions are quite different, but fear often plays a role. What does fear do to people? In fact, what is fear? In this interview, anxiety and hypnosis researcher Dr Barbara Schmidt from the Institute of Psychology at the University of Jena explains to us the fundamentals of fear, its effects, and ways in which we might be able to handle this feeling a bit better. Corona or COVID-19 has generated a great deal of uncertainty in Germany and the whole world. Why does a crisis like the present one frighten many people so much? Schmidt: The current social situation under COVID-19 is new and unknown to all of us. It is difficult for us to assess the situation correctly, as it changes every day. We cannot draw on known patterns; and that causes this feeling of uncertainty and fear.