Terrorism Fear: What You Can Do To Alleviate It - Causes of Terrorism Fear and War Fear

Written by Stephen Cox, M.D.

"Hope for the best. Be prepared for the worst"

• Have 3 gallons of drinking water per person stored.
• Have food that does not require refrigeration or cooking.
• Have a flashlight and batteries, matches and candles.
• Have some currency cash on hand.
• Have a weeks supply of regularly taken medications.

Decrease stimulus

• Turn off excessive TV news
• Change the topic in conversation from catastrophe, doom and worry

Relaxation

• Exercise
• Go to bed early
• Take a hike in the woods with your family or friends
• Do something that you enjoy like going for a drive, or playing with your dog.

Self-expression

• Put your feelings into words
• Talk to a friend about your fears. Listen to their fears.
• Write a journal to express your thoughts and feelings

Compartmentalize

• Allocate only a reasonable amount of time to each of your stresses

God

• Go to church
• Donate to Charity (church, National Anxiety Foundation, Red Cross, Salvation Army)
• Prayer

Humor

• Listen to a Carl Hurley tape
• Watch a comedian monologue about terrorism
• Read political cartoons

Reason and Logic

• Stop expecting the worst
• Think of how very unlikely harm is to come to you or your loved ones

For Children:

• Tell them that they really are safe.
• Keep to your usual routines.
• Keep them from seeing too many frightening pictures of the events.
• Teach them repeatedly not to play with white powder as a joke or prank. It is not funny. It is illegal. It is disrespectful to their country and their fellow man.
• Teach them to respect all people including Muslims and those appear to be "Persian".

How do I know if I need professional mental health help?

There is no simple way you can be sure about this, but here are some guidelines, any one of which might suggest it to be worthwhile to have an assessment visit with a mental health professional:

• Being an actual, direct victim of terrorism
• Excessive nightmares about terrorism
• Loss of normal emotions toward loved ones
• Feeling numb emotionally
• Unusual change in sleep habits or appetite
• Excessive fatigue
• Loss of interest in usual activities
• Unusual startling to sudden noises
• Excessive crying or guilt feelings.
• Can't go to work
• Drinking alcohol excessively or taking non-prescribed drugs
• Persons who know you intimately think you should get help