By: Joe Serwach, UM News & Information Services
Wednesday, March 26, 2003


ANN ARBOR, Mich.—It’s not you, it’s the situation. And when a situation like the war in Iraq reminds you of a painful memory, your brain’s self-defense mechanism will go off like an alarm, according to a University of Michigan researcher.

Your heart rate will rise, your immunity to illness will weaken, you’ll have trouble sleeping through the night, your back could get sore, your memory will suffer and you could have trouble breathing or accomplishing goals.The cause? Fear.

More than one-third of Americans suffer from an anxiety disorder at least once in their lifetime but research is finding some proven ways to overcome such conditions, said Stephen Maren, a U-M psychology professor who heads the University’s Emotion and Memory Systems Laboratory....

To read the remainder of the March 24, 2003 UM News & Information Services press release featuring the research of Associate Professor Stephen Maren, visit: http://www.umich.edu/news/Releases/2003/Mar03/r032403.html.

This news item is receiving media attention and can be seen at:

HealthScoutNews Report by Amanda Gardner, "War Coping Mechanisms." On ABCnews.com, Drkoop.com and on HealthCentral.com.

AP Report "War in Iraq affects Michiganians in many ways." In the San Jose Mercury News, on MLive.com, and in the Adrian Daily Telegram.

In addition, Maren was interviewed on Wednesday, March 26 on the Paul W. Smith show on WJR and you can tune in to the WAAM morning show on Monday, March 31 to hear another interview with him.