Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
We're talking about health issues that hit close to home this week on Healthwatch. Cable television makes it possible for us to stay informed about what's going on in the world 24 hours a day. But is that always a good thing? Constant news about war and terrorism can cause stress, especially for people with a strong connection to events, such as military families.
Patrick Tiner, an expert on stress management at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, says feelings of anxiety, vulnerability and helplessness are normal in the face of events like war and terrorism. Constant access to news can result in sensory overload. The first thing to do is reduce exposure to the news. Stay informed, but don't become obsessed. Keep in touch with friends and family who might be experiencing similar feelings. Regular exercise can help you cope, but don't turn to drugs or alcohol. You can take back some sense of control by doing things like preparing an emergency communications plan for your family.
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August 2005
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