HOW TO COPE WITH WAR: APPRECIATE THE BASICS

With war upon us, it may appear to be a strange time to feel appreciative for our current situation but that is exactly what we need do. We must appreciate the basics in life to balance the negatives of war. The sun comes up each morning, the earth is still in one piece. It's a balancing act, and right now many Americans, whether they are for or against the war, are out of balance.

ENCINO, CALIF.--With war upon us and the threat of terrorist attacks a reality, it may appear to be a strange time to feel appreciative for our current situation. But that is exactly what we need do, says Noelle C. Nelson, Ph.D., an author and therapist based in Encino, California.

"When we're at war and our safety is threatened, it's natural to feel uneasy, distracted, depressed or anxious," she says, "but the body and mind are connected. Negative emotions play themselves out by causing stress to our body, decreasing our immune system and having a detrimental impact on our heart."

Nelson suggests we learn to appreciate the basics in life to balance the negatives of war and terrorism. "The sun comes up each morning, the earth is still in one piece, we have friends and family who love us, we have a job that allows us to put food on the table--all the things we take for granted each day but are wonderful when you think about them," says Nelson.

"By consciously appreciating the positives in our life, we can much better cope with the horrors of war. It's a balancing act, and right now, I believe, many Americans, whether they are for or against the war, are out of balance. This imbalance will continue for as long as the war continues. Each day, we're being bombarded by war and terrorism news. It can be overwhelming and we've only been a war a few days. It's time for Americans to take a deep breath, put the issues that cause stress into proper perspective and appreciate their way to a more balanced life. Otherwise, current affairs will soon begin to take an emotional and physical toll."
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