This Spring was not a great one where I live. We had
cooler than normal weather after a colder than normal winter, probably
part of the changing climate cycles resulting from global warming. We
had an outbreak of the mysterious virus SARS. We had an increased threat
of West Nile Virus. We had renewed concerns about Mad Cow Disease. There
was the threat of terrorism and the reality of war. Whew! Not quite
Armageddon, but enough to have the most positive thinker feeling
fearful.
But wait a minute. Has the recent weather really been
cooler than normal or is that just a perception based on childhood
memory? Is there still a substantial threat to the majority of people
from terrorism? And how big is the threat of getting ill from a new
virus or two, anyway, at least compared to other risks?
As the level-headed Dr. Julie
Gerberding, Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, recently pointed out, obesity and smoking are still the
biggest causes of death in North America, all the new threats aside. (I
would add air pollution to that list.) And since these are lifestyle
issues about which we can each actually do something, why not take
action rather than worrying about threats that are either contained in
hospitals (like SARS in Canada), pose uncertain danger or are totally
out of our control?
Why not, indeed. Because the perception of danger
causes fear. And fear is more contagious than SARS. The adrenaline rush
that accompanies fear is addictive and it crowds out reason. That’s why
it is used to sell newspapers, wars, prescription drugs, pesticide
spraying, weapons in outer space and political candidates. Tell people
they are in danger and they will do what you want them to.
That doesn't have to be true. Although we do not have
control over unexpected events, we have complete control of how we react
to those events. There may not be a vaccine for these new viruses (yet!)
or for terrorism, but we can do much to inoculate ourselves against fear
and anxiety.
Sociologist Barry Glassner, author of the book The
Culture of Fear: Why Americans Are Afraid of the Wrong Things
says we need to learn how to identify exaggerated or false fears (and
rumors) from legitimate dangers. And the best way to do that is through
education and critical thinking. For instance, reading from a variety of
media provides a broader perspective on the world.
Better still, we can also lower our exposure to the
media. Who really needs a newscast every 15 minutes, instant news
flashes on their computer screen, hours each day passing gossip via
Internet chat groups, or a full evening’s worth of talking television
heads? All of that packaged paranoia is not going to make us more
intelligent or even more informed. But it will make us fearful.
Taking positive action is another antidote for fear,
whether it’s losing weight, learning to meditate or joining a community
organization and taking part in a real dialogue about how to make
positive change in society. Enjoy reading this issue of Natural Life and
keep in touch!
Wendy
Priesnitz, Editor
Read Editor Wendy Priesnitz's
Weblog
