9-11: From Depression to Anticipatory Anxiety.

News/Lifestyle Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 26, 2001

Terrorist psychology as a method of societal destabilization is more concerned with the perception of reality rather than reality itself.

Thus it's not surprising that "Anticipatory Anxiety" -- fear of what one may fantasize could occur as a result of terrorist actions -- can be more destabilizing to a society than the actual reality that does unfold.

"This is why people are stocking up on disaster supplies, canceling vacations, not flying, afraid of being in large groups, and purchasing gas masks in record numbers," according to trauma psychologist Robert R. Butterworth, Ph.D.

Fantasy breeds fear. During this period of uncertainty in a psychological sense, "It's what we don't know and fantasize about that can hurt us. The adage, 'The only fear is fear itself,' rings true, especially in this case," according to Butterworth.

He added, "With all the talk of terrorist actions involving everything from biological agents to future bombings, it is no wonder that the fear of the future can be more unsettling than the trauma and depression resulting from past events."

Butterworth feels that as a society we are now more vulnerable to anticipatory anxiety since we have not had time, in a psychological sense, to recover from the events of Sept. 11.

"Unlike past disasters, such as the bombing in Oklahoma City in which we had a psychological recovery period in which things settled down and we had time to catch our breath and mourn as a group -- we don't have time. We're actually speeding up and getting ready for war -- we're too anxious even to be depressed," said the trauma expert.

The trauma psychologist believes that in order to win this psychological battle of fear it's important for people not to get swept up in unsubstantiated rumors of doom: "Not to panic and give in to hysteria. The reality is that we're angry and scared but going to work. Children are nervous but going to school. We're not hiding in our homes but starting to get back on planes and the stock market has stabilized. Remembering that the psychological goals of the terrorists who attacked New York and Washington were not just to topple our buildings but destroy our way of life."

Within hours of the Sept. 11 disaster in New York, trauma psychologist and media commentator Robert R. Butterworth, Ph.D., was giving ongoing psychological commentary to a traumatized nation. During those crucial 10 days, he was called upon almost daily on MSNBC. He also appeared frequently on CNN, CBS, NBC and Fox Network television conveying psychological hope to our nation's psyche.