The nation's threat alert level was elevated last week to code orange, signifying a "high" risk for a terrorist attack. At a senate committee hearing on February 11, Attorney General John Ashcroft commented that recent terrorist threats have been "the most specific we have seen."
The threat of terrorism has left many Americans feeling unsettled. Yet the warnings do not give any specific information about potential targets and there is nothing anyone can do to lessen the risk of becoming one. "The fact that he is so nebulous increases some people's anxieties," says Stephanie Pratola, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist from Salem, Virginia.
For those who do feel overwhelmed by the recent threat, a little risk analysis may help. "Anxiety comes from the unknown," Pratola explains. Day-to-day risks—such as that of a car accident—are far more likely to happen than a terrorist act. Putting terror in context can help many people feel a little less apprehensive.
