Conspiracy theorist husband and anxiety

[Beckybecks]

I'm not sure where to post this or if it's even allowed. But I really need to chat about what's going on in my home due to Covid19 conspiracy theories, my husband and how it's causing me confusion and anxiety.

For more than a year my husband has been plugged into his device listening to conspiracy theorists brain washing him into believing all manner of strange things linked to the virus.

We can hardly talk anymore because our beliefs and opinions are so different now.
Whenever he has the opportunity he preaches to me although I've explained to him I'm not in agreement.

Just a few of his opinions/beliefs:
The virus is man made.
It's all part of a plan to control us and depopulated the world
The test will infect us
The vaccination will implant a chip used for track and trace

There's SO much more but I'm sure you're all aware of what's going around on social media.
I'm not ignorant and I'm normally quite level headed but after a year of living with this constant barage of strange opinions, I do have days when I think "maybe he's right" and "maybe he's mad".

It feels little like I'm living in a strange science fiction movie.

Today I've been told to avoid my best friend because she's had the vaccination and he knows that vaccinated people are spreading the virus very quickly.
Only healthcare workers have been vaccinated so far in our area (I'm in South Africa)
I have a medication phobia so have always been anxious about the vaccination but I know the time is coming where most people here will have access to it.
I have to have a test soon to travel to a neighboring country. I darent even tell my husband.
Sorry for the long rant but my anxiety is getting worse with nobody to talk to about this.

[Lencoboy]

I'm not sure where to post this or if it's even allowed. But I really need to chat about what's going on in my home due to Covid19 conspiracy theories, my husband and how it's causing me confusion and anxiety.

For more than a year my husband has been plugged into his device listening to conspiracy theorists brain washing him into believing all manner of strange things linked to the virus.

We can hardly talk anymore because our beliefs and opinions are so different now.
Whenever he has the opportunity he preaches to me although I've explained to him I'm not in agreement.

Just a few of his opinions/beliefs:
The virus is man made.
It's all part of a plan to control us and depopulated the world
The test will infect us
The vaccination will implant a chip used for track and trace

There's SO much more but I'm sure you're all aware of what's going around on social media.
I'm not ignorant and I'm normally quite level headed but after a year of living with this constant barage of strange opinions, I do have days when I think "maybe he's right" and "maybe he's mad".

It feels little like I'm living in a strange science fiction movie.

Today I've been told to avoid my best friend because she's had the vaccination and he knows that vaccinated people are spreading the virus very quickly.
Only healthcare workers have been vaccinated so far in our area (I'm in South Africa)
I have a medication phobia so have always been anxious about the vaccination but I know the time is coming where most people here will have access to it.
I have to have a test soon to travel to a neighboring country. I darent even tell my husband.
Sorry for the long rant but my anxiety is getting worse with nobody to talk to about this.

We thought the Global Financial Crisis, Brexit in the UK, and the election of Dollard the Orange Gibbon in the USA were all hugely responsible for dividing and polarising families, and wider society in general, with misinformation, conspiracy theories and all that jazz but this pandemic seems to have taken it all to yet another level!

[Fishmanpa]

I'm sorry that you're dealing with this. If you've done any reading here, you'll see that those opinions are not received well and in general, it's been my experience they're not the consensus nor received well anywhere (with the exception of like minded individuals). Sadly though, at least here in the US, 1 in 4 conservatives believe this. Heck, more than 50% still believe the election was stolen!

But I hear you.. Facts, science, logic and common sense goes out the window. There is one thing you can counter the vaccine chip nonsense with. Ask him if he uses a smart phone You can be pinpointed on a map just by making a call and many of the apps track your every move and preferences. Also ask him if he uses a computer. Just by visiting a website, adverts will pop up and populate other sites you visit, acquire your email and fill your inbox with junk. So if he's worried about an actual microscopic chip that's too small to see suspended in a liquid that can pass through the opening of a hypodermic needle, he should be more concerned about the devices he's using that know all about him.

I wish I had a solution for you but those that subscribe to this type of feelings and beliefs aren't going have their minds changed easily if at all.

Positive thoughts, facts, science and reality....

[AntsyVee]

I have an uncle and a friend on here like your husband, and it's not easy. All I know is that you can't get defensive and angry...as soon as that happens, the communication breaks down. You just have to keep asking them questions and presenting science and hope that eventually, they'll get exposed to enough truth to come around. Another thing is to encourage them to read a variety of sources. I know that my uncle and my friend are brainwashed because they only listen to/read Fox News, OAN and Breitbart, which all say the same things and offer only one perspective. Turn the TV on PBS or other news and leave it on as much as possible. Email them info that question their ideas.

I also came across this article the other day that I thought had some great advice:
https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/cr...racy-theorists

[Beckybecks]

Thank you AntsyVee. I've read the article you posted the link to and it's really a great help to me.

[Lencoboy]

I'm sorry that you're dealing with this. If you've done any reading here, you'll see that those opinions are not received well and in general, it's been my experience they're not the consensus nor received well anywhere (with the exception of like minded individuals). Sadly though, at least here in the US, 1 in 4 conservatives believe this. Heck, more than 50% still believe the election was stolen!

But I hear you.. Facts, science, logic and common sense goes out the window. There is one thing you can counter the vaccine chip nonsense with. Ask him if he uses a smart phone You can be pinpointed on a map just by making a call and many of the apps track your every move and preferences. Also ask him if he uses a computer. Just by visiting a website, adverts will pop up and populate other sites you visit, acquire your email and fill your inbox with junk. So if he's worried about an actual microscopic chip that's too small to see suspended in a liquid that can pass through the opening of a hypodermic needle, he should be more concerned about the devices he's using that know all about him.

I wish I had a solution for you but those that subscribe to this type of feelings and beliefs aren't going have their minds changed easily if at all.

Positive thoughts, facts, science and reality....

An interesting point you make about devices like smartphones and certain apps allowing us to be 'tracked', which many of us don't even give as much as a second thought to most of the time!

Should these also be feared, cursed and avoided like the plague?

[pulisa]

Thank you AntsyVee. I've read the article you posted the link to and it's really a great help to me.

It's a really helpful and insightful article. isn't it?

I do feel for you, Becky...I hope things get less intense. It must be very isolating for you.

You stick to your beliefs and don't let him get to you. You make your own choices and he can make his.

[NoraB]

An interesting point you make about devices like smartphones and certain apps allowing us to be 'tracked', which many of us don't even give as much as a second thought to most of the time!

Should these also be feared, cursed and avoided like the plague?

I mute the microphone.. (when I remember to)

Me and Hubs were arguing about something one day and Alexa chimed in! I don't mind arguing with him, but I'm not taking the pair of them on!

Phones and smart devices are listening in to our convos - which is why I keep seeing ads for garden spades/funeral packages/a good defence lawyer - when I've been threatening to bury Hub's in the back yard!

[Lencoboy]

I mute the microphone.. (when I remember to)

Me and Hubs were arguing about something one day and Alexa chimed in! I don't mind arguing with him, but I'm not taking the pair of them on!

Phones and smart devices are listening in to our convos - which is why I keep seeing ads for garden spades/funeral packages/a good defence lawyer - when I've been threatening to bury Hub's in the back yard!

And where's the mass revolt and indignation against these super-intelligent devices and technologies that the vast majority of us take for granted these days?

But vaccines, especially those impregnated with mythical microchips and other potentially 'harmful' ingredients are a whole 'nother bogeyman!

Including the myth (or conspiracy theory) back in 1998 that jabs turn us into Auties, which turned out to be a load of old pony, but sadly many people continue to buy into that BS today!

[NoraB]

Including the myth (or conspiracy theory) back in 1998 that jabs turn us into Auties, which turned out to be a load of old pony, but sadly many people continue to buy into that BS today!

BS indeed. And yes, the anti-vaxxers can usually be found in 'autism parenting' forums and groups - alongside claims that 'bleach cures autism', as does slapping and shouting it out of a child (ABA). Anything to 'rid' their children of autism. They put so much effort into forcing their child to 'conform' to what's considered to be 'normal' that they can't see their children as the remarkable individuals they are. The world s confusing enough for a child who is autistic without having parents who consider them 'less' or something to be 'cured'. I get very angry when I see the lengths some parents go to with their kids - such as videoing them having a meltdown on the toilet. An 'autism dad' wanted the world to see how tough 'his' life is as the parent of an autistic child, and what he has to put up with on a daily basis and breaching his child's basic right to privacy was his way of doing it. What the hell?! I saw a severely distressed child and a father holding an effing camera recording it all. That's abuse, no? This is the kind of self-serving shit people do, and it makes me SO angry!

Anyway, deep breaths Nora, think fluffy kittens...