Author: John C. Martin
Author Date: 3/31/2003

Facing an uncertain chronic disease can be stressful enough for
those who must stick to long medication regimens, see doctors on a
regular basis, and cope with the fears about how their disease will
affect their health.

But there are other stressors that Americans in general are facing
these days, which can make chronic disease anxiety all the more
intense. As the war in Iraq drags on, it seems Americans are
engulfed in talk of the intense battles, and the threat of
terrorism. Much of the medias reporting of this war is
unprecedented, providing real-time images of troops on the
battlefield filed by reporters embedded on the front lines.

Emotional Firestorm
It is enough to potentially push many people into an emotional and
psychological firestorm. The overwhelming anxiety that images of the
war and the threat of terrorism creates can seem too difficult to
handle for some people-even for those of us watching from a good
distance.

Experts say there are no specific data about whether the war has
increased the numbers of people who may be facing serious stress,
but it is obvious that events like these can have a negative
effect. "We dont have any information about a higher incidence of
anxiety disorders in a proper sense, but its clear that times like
these are associated with heightened levels of anxiety for most of
us," said Joseph Himle, Ph.D., an assistant clinical professor and
associate director of the Anxiety Disorders Program in the
Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan.

Yet Himle emphasizes that these anxious feelings can be kept at bay
by implementing some much focused actions.

"In times of war, we often find ourselves having real difficulty
concentrating on the day-to-day life we have to lead, on family and
work responsibilities," said Himle. "We might find our sleep is
impaired, and the general sorts of worry that were relatively
accustomed to, such as health or financial concerns, are elevated
even further."

How Stress Affects Our Health
Those worries can often manifest themselves physiologically, in the
form of certain symptoms like rapid heart beat, shakiness, shortness
of breath or sweatiness. "Clearly, people with preexisting anxiety
conditions now faced with these stressors are especially likely to
find that they might need professional help during this period," he
said.

Not everyone needs to run to professional counseling during times of
stress, but for others it can provide some much needed help. "I
think for many individuals, therapy or formal intervention isnt
necessary because theyre able to maintain their relationships,
theyre able to continue to function in the various roles that they
have," Himle said, in an interview with Priority Healthcare. "But
for individuals who experience anxiety up to the point where they
are having difficulty fulfilling the duties and roles that are
usually expected, then I think it makes good sense to consider
seeking some help."

For others, Himle recommends balancing intense war coverage and
constant terrorism threats with the use of stress management
techniques that have been shown to work.

Unfortunately, many people during times of stress do not engage in
the activities that would relieve that stress, such as taking part
in frequent social activities, taking up volunteer work or other
activities that are fun or satisfying, or participating in a regular
exercise program, Himle pointed out.

While many Americans are trying to come to grips with the fact that
we now live in a world that is not as safe as we once thought, Himle
says it is possible to feel some sense of control.

"In our day-to-day life, there are typically pockets of safety-
safety within your family, safety in your home, safety in your
community," he explained. "Paying attention to the many aspects of
daily life that are really quite safe helps us buffer the belief
that theres just no safety left anymore."

A Flood of War Coverage
By contrast, paying too much attention to the flood of war coverage
can be counterproductive, Himle warned. "I think it makes sense for
us to be informed, but its not useful to monitor the television,
radio or Internet all day long," he said.

"I do think that we need some diversion from repetitive accounts of
the threats that are facing us," Himle added.

The way the media cover the war does not help, either. Reporters on
the front lines file stories in real time about battles as they are
happening. They also report about the threat of terrorism, the
challenges of fighting a resistant Iraqi military force, the threat
of fierce weather, and health concerns associated with the potential
use of biological weapons in the war zone.

"For many people, the evening news is one series of threats after
another," Himle said. "And especially during these times, people
with a predisposition toward having excessive anxiety are likely to
find those accounts-especially those more intimate accounts-of the
war effort to be particularly troublesome."

"I think that the war up close and personal is something that were
not accustomed to," he said.

Helping Yourself By Helping Others
Another way to help yourself is to help others. Contributing time or
resources to volunteer efforts can be stimulating, especially if
they benefit those active in the war effort or those who have been
impacted by it. "We saw it after 9-11. Weve seen it in previous
wars; sending a note or volunteering some extra time can often be
very helpful to both the giver and the recipient in these
challenging times," Himle advised.

Many people also feel stressed because they oppose the war with
Iraq. Himle suggests seeking social support from those who have
similar beliefs. The same advice goes for the families of soldiers
who are serving in the war zone. Letter-writing and seeking a strong
support system from others is the ideal way to manage your
fears. "Talking about your fears with others experiencing the same
thing is an invaluable way to keep some of that natural stress under
control," Himle said.

He also advises that, while hate toward our enemies is a natural
human emotion, we should not let those feelings become all-
encompassing.

He says spiritual outlets are often helpful in dealing with these
very powerful emotions. "Hate can really interfere with the sorts of
things that we all need to do to support those who are putting their
lives on the line for us."

John Martin is a long-time health journalist and an editor for
Priority Healthcare. His credits include coverage of health news for
the website of Fox Television's The Health Network, and articles for
the New York Post and other consumer and trade publications.