Abigail Trafford

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Join Post Health columnist Abigail Trafford on Tuesday, Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. EST for an interactive reader discussion about dealing with life in the aftermath of Sept. 11 -- from changes in your daily routine or moods to big questions about changing values and priorities.

An epidemic of fear has gripped the country. While no new cases of Anthrax have been reported recently, people are still on edge. Government officials have warned the public of more terrorist attacks. But it's hard to know how to protect yourself and minimize your personal risks. Meanwhile, you have to go on and live your life. How do you deal with fear?

The transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

Abigail Trafford: Life seems a little easier. No new cases of anthrax. The Golden Gate Bridge is still there. In Washington, it's lovely clear fall day. So, are you back to normal yet? Not quite yet. September 11 changed our notions of safety, our perceptions of risk. The goal now it to integrate the attacks and make them a part of our new reality. Not the only or dominant reality, but terrorism is now a risk that is part of the New Normal.
How scared should you be? Fear is an involuntary response. It is programmed in a primal part of the brain, a survival tool from when we were threated by saber tooth tigers. When you're afraid, your body and brain changes. Blood rushes to your limbs so you can run faster. You heart rate increases. Hormones are released to make you more alert. This is great when you're under attack. But as Steven Hyman, the director of the National Institute of Mental Health says: "It's not so great as a way to live."
But that's the way we've been living these days. Hyperalert. That's not good for our health or our psyches. You'll misjudge risks and make wrong decisions that may put you in greater danger.
What are you doing to cope with fear? Are you not so scared any more? How do you respond when the FBI issues another alert that a terrorist attack is imminent--but they can't say when or why or how?
Share you wisdome and send in your questions. We're ready to go.

Arlington, Va: What do you do if you fear that you won't get anthrax and you'll have to continue your miserable daily existence from now until the time bin Laden fires his nuclear weapon?

Abigail Trafford: Risk perception is so interesting. Everyone tends to misjudge risks especially if the threat is new and unpredictable. Remember Mad Cow Disease? West Nile Virus? We don't worry about them so much now. But what about driving in a car. That is a major risk. More than 40,000 Americans died in traffic accidents every year. But because that's a familiar, predictable risk, we are not afraid when we get in a car everyday. How do you guage unpredictable threats? That's what bioterrorism is all about. You now realize that at this point, the risk of anthrax to you is very very small. So you worry about a nuclear strike. We are all worried about that. During the Cold War a whole generation grew up in fear of an "On the Beach" end of the world scenario. It was scary. Then the fear went away. Now it's coming back. We learned how to live with the risk then. . . we'll learn to live with this one. Most important, you talk about having "to continue your miserable daily existence." I'm so sorry. Being miserable is he immediate problem. This needs to be addressed. It's a much more important concern than the speculation about a nuclear strike. Why do you think your life is miserable? What can make it better? Daily existence has much sorrow and many burdens. But there also needs to be joy. It should not be unrelenting misery.

Silver Spring, Md.: Should we take precautions when we open mail?

Abigail Trafford: Officials from the Centers for Disease Control say they cannot guarantee that the mail is absolutely safe, but the risk to ordinary individuals is very very very very small. I consider myself an ordinary individual who lives in the District. At home I open my mail, the way I always have. I sort it on a table, throw a lot of it away, then takes the bills to a desk to be dealt with. . . . But some people area are taking precautions. A friend and neighbor opened her mail outdoors for a couple of days. Some people still do.
Now if you are in a situation where your risk of exposure is greater than it is for ordinary people, the situation changes. The media has been a target, so at the Post, we now handle the mail very differently. The mail is separated in a self-contained room. We writers go down to the room, put on a mask and gloves, and then go through our mail.
It all depends on your personal situation. . . and what makes you feel more secure.

Gaithersburg, Md.: I'm imposing order in my little corner of chaos. I've been cleaning out closets and cupboards. Purple Heart has already taken away 6 bags of stuff that has been nothing but clutter. My garden and lawn are cleaner than they've been in years. I got the urge in early October, and I laughed when I realized what I was doing. But it has really helped.

I've also -- please forgive me -- been humming Christmas carols already. "Joy to the World" cures a wonder of ills.

Abigail Trafford: You are terrific. I'm with you in spirit. I've been doing virtual clean-out of closets and drawers. Because it is the best way to clear the demons out of your head and uplift the spirit. Your whole body feels lighter after putting order in chaos. My problem is time. Everythings seems to be going faster these days. Rush rush. Where did you find the time to do this? I applaud your approach. I bet others are doing the same thing. Maybe as a nation, we're getting cleaner and more orderly these days. "Joy to the World!" is right. And one of my favorites.

Washington, D.C.: My husband and I have discussed starting a family (or starting to try) early next year. This is not a recent thing; it's been our plan for a while. However, I'm wondering if it's moral to bring a baby into this crazy world. Any advice?

Abigail Trafford: You are obviously very thoughtful. Having a family is something you've talked about before and you want to start trying in the new year. Bravo for you. The world is always more or less crazy. What matters is you and your husband and your personal situation. Having a baby is a very moral thing to do. It's an affirmation of what makes us human. I don't think the current situation is so acute that people should take that into consideration at this point. Now, if you have some second thoughts, and the current attacks have brought these reservations out in the open, that's another issue.

Suitland, Md.: Abigail - You come across as the nicest, kindest person. I'm pretty sure the first poster was just trying to be funny with his "miserable existence" line, but bless your heart for taking any chance to aid an ailing contributor!

Abigail Trafford: Thank you Suitland! Maybe I just misunderstood. Anyway I'm here to help. And next time i'll get the joke. I do have a sense of humor. . . .

Arlington, Va.: Abi,
With the scare of anthrax and the cold season coming, how can we not over-react and should everyone get flu shots?

Abigail Trafford: Hi, Arlington. I think physicians have learned a lot very fast about anthrax. Every doctor and nurse is on alert. There are real differences between common colds and inhalation anthrax. And docs are going to err on the side of caution and prescribe antibiotics when they think anthrax is a possibility. We'll learn not to over-react when we get more used to living with the risk of anthrax, which is still very small. As for flu shots? Again, there are guidelines. People should get them if they are older, work in health care settings, have problems with their immune system. And many ordinary people with no particular risk factors may also want to get a flu shot. I plan on getting one.

Washington, D.C.: Sorry I'm submitting this so early but I have a meeting scheduled then:

My company is giving flu shots next week and I am signed up to get one. Question is, I feel like I am coming down with a cold. My co-worker told me that I can't get a flu shot if I am sick. Is that true?

Abigail Trafford: The word from the docs is: As long as you DON'T have a fever, it's okay to have a flu shot if you're coming down with a cold.

Washington, D.C.: It is interesting to me that many people who live in D.C. do not perceive residential mail to be a risk factor. Based on what I have been reading on the Washington Post Web site over the last few weeks, information about the properties and behavior of anthrax has changed. At first, the mail posed no danger, then one letter seemed to contaminate both people and places through ancilliary contact, thus showing us that spores are passed from letter to letter. Given that, given the time they are having trying to disinfect the Hart building, and given the possibility that there are more anhtrax mail attacks to come (and we won't necessarily know when they've been launched), do you not think precautions such as latex gloves and disposal of mail are reasonable at this time?

Abigail Trafford: There are still questions to me about how the anthrax cases in Washington occurred and how it was spread in the mail. There are also questions in New Jersey and New York. You're right. We don't have the whole story. I don't think it's unreasonable to wear gloves when dealing with the mail. Personally I don't. Not at home, not at this point. But I do here at the Post.

Suitland, Md.: Re: Christmas carols. One of my office mates has been playing Christmas carols all day. I thought it was a little odd/early, but I do notice I'm humming along and feeling pretty chipper. Maybe there's something to that!

Now I just have to get to my closets and drawers!

Abigail Trafford: It's is a little early for carols. How will we all feel two months from now! I'm a believer is music, though. Great for the mood. Maybe some Janis Joplin? Vivaldi? The Beatles? Something to listen to when you tackle those closets!

Abigail Trafford: Our time is up. Thank you all for your questions and comments. Next week, we'll talk about marriage and divorce. How have your relationships been affected by the September 11 attacks? Join me same time, same place.

washingtonpost.com: Readers can get more information and related links about Anthrax:
Clarifying The Facts and Risks of Anthrax

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