Have you ever dealt with a serious hypochondriac? I have. I’m not going to tell that personal story, but I will share some lessons I’ve learned, because I keep seeing the same behaviors among the covid-conscious.
IT'S SERIOUS. Hypochondria is a real disease (ironically). It can make someone blow their life savings or turn into a recluse. Think of it like compulsive gambling or any addiction. It can take over a person's life. /2
IT STARTS SMALL. Maybe a chemical sensitivity or a food allergy. If you humor them, thinking the accommodations are too small to object to, the requests will escalate. There is no limiting principle. Their health trumps your minor inconvenience every time. /3
REASONING WILL GET YOU NOWHERE. Hypochondriacs aren't irrational. Quite the opposite. They are too rational. Going to a concert is fun, going to the store is useful, but they're not worth dying over. "The risk may be small but it's not worth my life" is invincible logic. /4
FACTS WON'T EITHER. Because they'll always know more than you. Why wouldn't they? It's their obsession. Assuming you don't collect medical facts compulsively, because you are a sane person, you'll never win on that ground. /5
THERE'S ONLY ONE CURE. You cannot talk someone out of hypochondria. There's no argument you can possibly make. It just doesn't work that way. The only cure is to make a decision that you want to live like a normal person. This decision takes place at a pre-rational level. /6
So if it seems like I'm not interested in debating mask mandates beyond "I'm a free human being and I won't do it," this is why. /END
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