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CNN Live Today
Recent Terror Alerts Have Made Many People Literally Worried Sick
Aired May 22, 2002 - 10:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: September 11th changed the way that most Americans look at their everyday lives. And the recent terror alerts that we've been seeing in the reports in the news have made many people literally worried sick. A new CBS poll shows that 33 percent of Americans think another terrorist attack likely in the next few months; 41 percent say attack somewhat likely. The figures are up compared to last week, but they are down a little bit for the most fear unfortunately the month after the attacks.
So how do you know whether your fears are normal, whether they're justified. Terror anxiety is the focus of today's Paging Dr. Gupta segment.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If Americans are feeling anxious these days, it's with good reason. Those awful images of September 11th are never far from our minds. As time passes, many have moved on, but cautiously, as if we are afraid of what might happen next.
Now, the vice president reminds us what happened before could happen again. And probably will.
DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The prospects of a future attack against the United States are almost certain. I would like to be able to say it's never going to happen again. But I don't think anybody who has looked at it can say that. We don't know if it will be tomorrow or next week or next year.
GUPTA: We can only hope when it happens, it won't happen to us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Although symbolically, this is very frightening, and very real threat and unpredictable, the actual odds of any given American being affected by it are fairly small, and I think sometimes that can comfort people.
GUPTA: Still, anxiety persists. Doctors even have a name for it: generalized anxiety disorder. You might have it and not even know it. Symptoms include: constant exaggerated worrisome thoughts, tension about everyday activities, almost always anticipating the worst, and physical symptoms, such as fatigue, trembling, muscle tension, headache or nausea. All these symptoms together can become so overbearing they disrupt our lives.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it once it starts interfering with your functioning, then it's time to look at whether or not you would benefit from help.
GUPTA: But for now, most of the Americans I spoke with don't need help. They're cautious, but optimistic.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think I might have a he's station right now to get on plane or ride the subways. But I can't really see change in my life. I don't know what good that would do. Can't worry about what you don't know.
GUPTA (on camera): You mentioned sporting events earlier. Anything like that, that you are avoiding yourself?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not really. You know, I want to be supportive of the American public and, you know, and everybody put a good face on this thing and be proud of what we're doing and not change our routine.
GUPTA: Some even had advice for the rest of us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Any fear you have in life, you need to address it and try to overcome it.
GUPTA: Without doubt, lives in America have changed. A terrorized nation can be an anxious one. But for how long and to what degree is our decision alone.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA: An anxiety from any source is really not something to be ignored. Untreated anxiety can lead to all sorts of problems, including panic attacks, depression, cardiovascular disease and weakened immune system. So there is help out there. If you have the symptoms, go get the help.
HARRIS: One thing that occurred to me watching your report and reading the information and seeing the polls and all that. They all talked about adults. You know, there's children out there as well who seem to be getting a bit worked up. I know I have two at home that ask me a lot of questions.
GUPTA: Yes, and they were probably watching a lot of television right after this, and may have still continued to watch television. We have talked to psychologist about that very point. A lot of kids were inundated with these images. The images themselves are a problem, but the other problem that a lot of times they don't understand the images. What the psychologist told us is go ahead and explain what's going on to your kids. That unknown factor compounded on the images can make it actually doubly worse. So if they're asking questions, go ahead and be honest with your kids. Don't leave them on the dark on that, that seems to help.
HARRIS: You know, and most people think that leaving them in the dark is protecting them, that what they don't know won't hurt them,that sort of thing.
GUPTA: Right, and we got sort of the opposite view from the psychologists.
HARRIS: Interesting. Hopefully, we'll get some more advice coming up, because you are going to stick around and come back next hour
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