Here is the opening section of a newsletter my doctor sent to all the patients in his practice as part of his response to the Wuhan virus situation. I will spare his blushes by not mentioning his name. He is trying to address the fears that many have in the face of uncertain data and even more uncertain forecasts produced by statisticians who are doing their best and are probably the best out there, but can’t really say accurately what is going to happen.

My doctor is a Catholic, but not all his patients are. He is trying to communicate the hope he derives from his faith, even in the current situation, to all his patients and including those who wouldn’t listen to theological arguments. I suggest this is a model communication an attitude of faith, without arousing the prejudice of the non-believers. I will spare his blushes by not mentioning his name.

Certainly, this gave me hope. He is not offering a false Polyanna optimism, he addressing the worst-case scenario realistically, but hopefully.

Dear patients/friends,

I hope you are staying safe and as well as possible both physically and mentally during this trying period.  Clearly, the sense of insecurity, uncertainty, and helplessness seems unprecedented.  But remember that while we cannot immediately control our emotions we can adjust how we respond to them. 

If you're like me, you probably worry most about what might happen to loved ones if you were to become seriously ill with this virus.  Also, you may have very legitimate financial worries about the post-COVID economy and about your ability to make a living or to provide financial security for your loved ones. 

Pro tip: whenever the anxieties start to rise in my mind, I remind myself of how insignificant I am!  In fact, the feelings of anxiety betray a bit of self-importance: an exaggerated sense of how much I believe others depend on me or should rely on me.  Sure, my wife and children will be sad if I died, but I'm pretty sure they will eventually get over it.  Also, the financial future is legitimately looking bleak.  But so what if we become poor?  There's no indignity in that if it happens due to misfortune and if I have done the best that I could under the circumstances.

That helps take the edge off.  Then, as soon as I feel a little better, I try to remind myself of all the great people and good things that are in my life right now and how these have essentially fallen in my lap!  I can hardly take credit for any of the many great things I have been blessed to receive.  If I do this frequently and stay grateful for them, it really keeps the emotions manageable.

So much for the self-help section of this update :)

On the news side, the number of COVID cases in the Bay area remain encouragingly low.  The hospitals are nowhere near surge mode and….etc