Dec. 27, 1999
While there is no evidence at this point people will panic on New Year's Eve, experts in behavioral sciences want to make sure help is available if unexpected calls come through on a hotlines designed to help people with emotional difficulties.
Science Specialist Ed Yeates has more on the story.
The hotlines at Highland Ridge Hospital are mainly designed to handle people with drug, alcohol or related depression problems.
But this year could prove unique since some individuals might develop excessive anxiety related to Y2K fears or a millennium disaster.
For example, an elderly widow is home alone watching events unfold on television. She has no family to talk to, and becomes apprehensive as the new millennium approaches.
Mark Weiss / Highland Ridge Hospital: "WE WOULD PROBABLY TRY TO DIALOGUE WITH HER ABOUT REMAINING SOMEWHAT REALITY BASED. I MEAN SOMETIMES THERE IS THIS BIG FRENZY BECAUSE THEY'RE WATCHING THE HYPE OF TELEVISION."
Mark Weiss says sometimes the person may just need to hear a comforting voice, an assurance that everything is okay, that they're safe in their home. For that person, a counselor may even suggest, "turn the television off!"
Weiss: "READ A GOOD BOOK, LISTEN TO SOME MUSIC - GET AWAY FROM THAT SOURCE THAT IS CREATING THE ANXIETY."
What about people with certain phobias? Someone who already has a fear of large public gatherings may suddenly feel the talk about terrorism or rumors of mass destruction threatens them even in the sanctity of their own home. Counselors call this kind of overreation "awfulizing."
Weiss: "SOMETIMES IT'S A LITTLE BIT GREATER CHALLENGE TO GET THEM TO FOCUS ON THE MORE POSITIVE ASPECTS. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAN BE HELPFUL IS FOR THEM TO IDENTIFY THAT THAT IS WHAT THEY'RE DOING AGAIN, THAT THEY'RE MAKING IT LOOK LIKE THE WORST POSSIBLE PICTURE OUT THERE."
Weiss says people trying to work through their fears mostly need a good ear. Those who staff the hotlines are trained to be good listeners - to quickly discern the anxiety verbalized on the other end of the phone.
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