Staff Writer

ONEONTA — Jill Stevens paints. Gary Star listens to soft music. Melissa Cleveland shops and sticks close to her family.

These are a few of the coping strategies area residents say they use to deal with the stress of war.

Saturation of media coverage of the conflict in Iraq and anxiety about the potential for terrorism in the United States have begun to take their toll on people like Cleveland, who says she can't escape the constant barrage of televised war images.

"It's on every TV wherever you go," said Cleveland, 24, of Milford. "It's on at Applebee's, where I work, it's on at Wal-Mart. It gets overwhelming after a while."

Cleveland and her sister, 18-year-old Shawna Juhl, also of Milford, said their parents have the television tuned to war coverage around the clock.

"It's created a lot of attention in my house," Juhl said. "My mom has her opinion and my dad has his. It's nice to be kept up to date, but I don't want to see it everywhere, all day long."

The war and the idea of terrorism is unnerving to new mothers like Alicia Keator of Milford, who says she fears for the future of her daughter, 7-week-old Brittany.

"I worry about what the world's going to be like when she gets older," Keator said.

Stress makes it hard to cope with everyday tasks and puts people at risk for health problems, such as high blood pressure or depression, said Michael Faenza, president and chief executive officer of the National Mental Health Association.

"If you are feeling stressed, it's a good idea to deal with it and try to redirect that energy into positive activities," Faenza said.

Terry Frair, whose son Trevor is stationed with the Navy in Oceana, Va., says she takes a walk around the block whenever the stress begins to chip away at her.

"When I start to get nervous, or if I'm feeling stressed out at work, I get some fresh air," said Frair of Norwich.

Frair says she can take the stress because she knows her son believes in his duty to his country.

"I have a very positive son," she said. "My whole family is positive, and we need to support him and his beliefs that he's doing the right thing."

Stevens of Bainbridge said she gets out her brushes and paints to calm her nerves after overloading on war news.

"I think it's our responsibility not to ignore and to be clear on what's happening," Stevens said, "but I just get so upset with (President) Bush, and I have to turn it off."

Star said he also values the unprecedented, comprehensive war coverage.

"It's kind of historic to watch," said Star of Oneonta. "The technology piques my interest."

But watching 'round-the-clock battle news, he admits, has also begun to wear on his nerves.

"If I watch too long, for like five, six or seven hours, I can become anxious, so I turn it off and listen to soft music or just silence," Star said. "It's mesmerizing, but after a while, you have to say enough is enough because your body starts to get a little shaky."

The constant bombardment of these television images can be damaging to the human psyche, said Dr. James Bercovitz, an Oneonta psychologist who specializes in children and adolescents.

"People can be traumatized by watching those things," Bercovitz said, noting that he has been unable to turn away from the television for fear he might miss a new development.

"I think there's a natural, important need for information, but it's also important to be aware of how long you're watching these images, day after day," he added. "There's an accumulated effect."

With the talk of war constantly in the air, children also need to be able to express their feelings and concerns, and be assured they are safe, Faenza said.

"Children are seeing news reports and hearing people around them talk about the war and terrorist threats here at home," Faenza said. "But unlike adults, children have little experience to help them put all this information into perspective."

Teachers at Riverside Elementary School in Oneonta have been asked to look out for signs of stress or confusion in students.

"We've asked teachers to be extra sensitive to students who are feeling an unusually high degree of stress," Riverside Principal Kevin Johnson said. "We've also set aside counseling time for anyone who needs it."

Whether the war is brought up in class or the extent to which it is discussed is left up to the teacher, said Tim Gracy, principal of Oneonta's Greater Plains Elementary School, noting that the depth of discussion relates to grade level.

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Jill Fahy can be reached at jfahy@thedailystar.com or (607) 441-7221.