Fears about acts of terrorism have become prominent concerns in the lives of many individuals. We are reminded regularly of terrorist attacks in other countries, especially in the Middle East. We are also reminded of the possibility of such attacks in the United States as terror alert levels are reported and warnings issued, and as we witness guards with machine guns not only at our airports but in our cities as well. Newspapers, magazines, and television broadcasts constantly highlight the reality of the post-September 11 world. Given our work in the area of resilience my colleague Dr. Sam Goldstein and I continue to receive many questions about the most effective strategies for managing the stress and anxiety triggered by the threat of terrorism. In response to these questions, we have prepared the following article. In light of the recent publication of our book The Power of Resilience, we decided to focus on what adults can do for themselves to deal with anxiety occasioned by the spectre of terrorism. The reader is referred to several of the website articles I wrote immediately following September 11 for specific suggestions about helping children with worries about terrorism. Also, in last month’s article, I…
