A Remedy for Fear

It's generally conceded that the U.S. has been living in a climate of fear and anxiety since 9/11, and this mood has served the administration well. The public is told at regular intervals that we are in wartime and fear is necessary, although the code word being used is 'security.' The paradox about security is that fear prevails even when one is safe; even the absence of an attack doesn't make anxiety go away. We are told that it's wrong, even unpatriotic, to let down our guard.

In truth the only remedy for fear is personal and has little or nothing to do with homeland security. Each of us needs to find our own way out; no government action is going to do it for us.

Depending on the kind of person you are and the level of anxiety you feel about terrorism, some of the following steps are effective;

--Learn about what frightens you. Bring facts to light that offer genuine reassurance. Don't go by rumors and speculation that fuel fear.

--Take yourself out of the anxiety loop. Avoid news stories about terrorism. Stop being addicted to violent scenes on television of insurgency, bombings, terrorist threats, kidnappings, etc. Do not promote in yourself or your family a sense of vigilance about attacks in the future.

--Talk to someone who really listens. Share how you feel and ask for realistic feedback. For example, it isn't realistic to worry that you will become a personal victim of terror. If such a worry haunts you, talk about it.

--Avoid talking to people who are motivated by ideology or politics to fan the flames of fear. Various interest groups obviously have a stake in keeping threats alive. Take what they say with a grain of salt.

--Build a connection between yourself and the threat. There is no 'them' out there waiting to get you. There are only human beings with the same emotions and interests that you possess. Ignore demagogues who pain horrific pictures of an insane enemy. Don't fall for racial stereotypes. It takes fear and aggression on both sides to create terror.

--Be a practical optimist. There's no need to bury your head in the sand, but psychologically there's nothing to be gained by gloomily projecting events that you have no control over. Gaining control over your own existence is the single best way to decrease general, free-floating anxiety.

In the second part of this post we will go into particulars about public fear and the present situation. Taking a positive stand for peace requires looking at the details of how you personally relate to a very real threat which has, unfortunately, become irrationally politicized.

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