DD, conspiracy theories and the end of the world ???

[Floella4]

As is the case with the majority of the population this is a very worrying time for everybody filled with uncertainty and unknown.
My 18 year old DD is not an unintelligent girl as what the thread will say may have you assume. She has an unconditional place to study medicine at the top uni in the league tables in the country in September.
She has come across many articles online filled with conspiracies about Bill Gates and coronavirus. She has been SO down the past 2 months and I’ve been so so worried as it’s been a complete overnight personality shift but yesterday she spoke to me about this on her own accord. I think she was trying to ‘warn me’ about what she has discovered and she was honestly absolutely petrified of the information.
I can’t seem to convince her it isn’t true because the rebuttal from all of these idiots who write this poison is that anyone who doesn’t believe it is brainwashed and a sheep.
This is an example of one of the articles she showed me - hackernoon.com/covid-19-and-the-bibles-666-prophecy-zb2432po

I just don’t know what to do ?? Or how to make her see sense at this point ?? She has said she’s fully prepared to drop out of uni at any point to avoid taking the vaccine. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing !
I’m so worried about her as she’s SO scared

My initial feeling is that she may be slipping into depression, it can affect anyone really very seriously, regardless of IQ. I would read up on some symptoms and potentially talk to her gently about that.

Secondly, it might pay to buy her a good book on Critical Thinking. She will probably learn theory on this at Uni anyway, so it won't be a bad investment.

Surely Uni can't force her to take a vaccine anyway? That's a human rights issue.

@JoesExotic

Surely Uni can't force her to take a vaccine anyway? That's a human rights issue.

I don’t think the Uni could force her to take a vaccine but I think she would need it to be able to practise as a doctor and attend clinical placements, and I’ll definitely try and find a good critical thinking book thankyou !

Honestly to me this doesn’t seem like depression, she doesn’t seem sad or low or even anxious with so specific cause. It’s literal terror but of something specific ...

I would say it’s depression too, it can present itself in many different ways.

Her anxiety has allowed her to be brainwashed.

I’d be wary of sending her to university on account of her either falling in with absolute nutjobs who run societies that promote this nonsense or that she would ostracise herself from her peers because of her beliefs.

If she’s a smart girl she should understand how cults work. Maybe get her to watch some of the stuff on Netflix about Scientology or the Family.

Smart people can fall into a trap too.

I think DONT focus on or worry about her having a vaccine - and don't let her do the same. It's like worrying about something that may never happen. There isn't one and even if there was it's unlikely to be compulsory. Even flu vaccines are recommended but not forced. I'm not sure what else to say though - if someone is convinced of something. Maybe try to find a reputable source / s on youtube debunking these theories?

Thanks for the replies everyone. I wonder if anyone is aware of any debunking resources or channels on YouTube or something ? Some Christian ones would be especially helpful

I’ll obviously look for some myself but it feels a bit off to be delving too much into this stuff iyswim?

Getting back to her normal life and socialising with her peers will help massively with this. They'll laugh it off and she'll feel silly, and more grounded as a result.
It might be just a phase, I know I had one where I was fascinated by things like this (albeit never scared).
Does she still have access to her friends? She's not isolating herself from virtual contact with them is she?

I listened to something interestingly the other day as I'd seen David Icke. The problem is conspiracy theorists put a few things that are factual into their argument so it does sound believable. I'm trying to remember the podcast about how they do it but I can't remember. In the meantime this was interesting and a gentle approach. Interestingly this professor says the belief in conspiracy theories ties into a need for order and structure which would be completely understandable. www.google.co.uk/amp/s/theconversation.com/amp/why-people-believe-in-conspiracy-theories-and-how-to-change-their-minds-82514

The more you try to tell her she's wrong, the stronger she will cling to these new ideas. She in a very challenging time in the world and in her development. She's still a child in some ways, trying to become an adult in others. Just talk with her without criticism or becoming frustrated and emotional. Share articles with her that will allow her to have a more well-rounded outlook. This stage will pass.