Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Well owners can help map groundwater quality Emergency Services Cessna pilot walks away after crash landing near Ruch Half of Oregon's community college enrollees need remedial classes Rogue Valley may see latest frost on record Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services Cessna pilot walks away after crash landing near Ruch Emergency services Emergency services VIDEO: Wrap Up: Oct. 31, 2014 Politics and Elections Election equipment fails, delaying ballot counting Unrest from the ranks? Blue corn seeds stir debate Ads attack Dotterrer and Bates Local gas prices lowest in years Education Half of Oregon's community college enrollees need remedial classes Marketta Gregory: Stretch yourself for God Medford Schools Foundation supports programs the district can't Fire marshal visit prompts cancellation of Sacred Heart haunted house Kids Unlimited Academy awarded $450,000 grant Environment Well owners can help map groundwater quality Local gas prices lowest in years Where do all those leaves go? Ashland council calls for divestment from fossil fuel Reintroduction of McCloud River salmon inspires film, tribe State News Kitzhaber embattled as he seeks fourth term Nation - World Obituaries Jane Lynn Norris Jean Farran Sally Reilly Merna Faye Schaffer Lowell Travis Hamilton Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Warriors' Thompson shoots down Blazers Sounders tie FC Dallas in MLS semis LeBron-less Heat still going strong Gordon angry with Keselowski after Johnson’s win Battering Rams Varsity 541 College Sports Player with brain tumor fulfills dream Oregon’s rebound continues with Utah looming Cal spoils Mannion's night, beat Oregon State Ole Miss fumble paves way for Auburn Hundley passes, runs UCLA past Arizona Pro Sports Warriors' Thompson shoots down Blazers Sounders tie FC Dallas in MLS semis LeBron-less Heat still going strong Gordon angry with Keselowski after Johnson’s win Battering Rams Community Sports Results / Standings LOCAL EVENTS LOCAL RESULTS Business Latest Stories This Bud is for old friends Lithia reports $34.5 million third-quarter profit Blog: Trick or Treat! UO report shows Rogue Valley economy on the rise Will TV makeover do the trick for Mystic Treats? Real Estate News New I-5 interchange puts south Medford on fast lane to fast food Lithia buys Clovis dealership Rental vacancies increase Jackson County real estate sales, prices continue rebound People In Business People in Business Transportation Lithia reports $34.5 million third-quarter profit Frontier Airlines to end Eugene-Denver service Business Resource Fair has answers Erickson's Navy contract extended Lithia buys Clovis dealership Agriculture Revenue rises for Harry & David's parent company Where do all those leaves go? Hundreds look for work at Harry & David hiring fair Umpqua Holdings more than doubles net earnings Harry & David will hold hiring fair Thursday Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, Nov. 3 Our View: Commissioners invest in the future Letters to the Editor, Nov. 2 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 2 The stakes on Tuesday Editorials Our View: Commissioners invest in the future Our View: Dark money leaves candidates in dark Our View: Cheers and jeers Our View: Any new gas tax must be equitable Southeast center offers new approach to growth Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Nov. 3 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 2 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 2 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 1 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 30 Guest Opinions Measure 89 provides equality for women Eagle Point needs public transportation Guest Opinion: Common Core testing sets math students up for failure Guest Opinion: Campaigning and voting 'the Oregon way' Guest Opinion: A glimpse into the reality of our elections Lifestyle Latest stories HealthStyle: Troubled youth - early identification Anniversary: Marin New Arrivals Insects drive me buggy What are you afraid of? Food Spices of Autumn Community blog: Seven spooky snacks are savory Halloween fare Can’t get enough pumpkin-pie spice? Living and cooking in pear-a-dise Kitchen Call: A cookbook by its cover Home and Garden 17 things you never knew about turkeys Dear Monty: 10 tips toward a quality offer on a home How to live and work in a tiny home Dear Monty: Rent-back clause prevents financial disaster​ Recycle plastic at The Expo Friday and Saturday Health HealthStyle: Troubled youth - early identification Woman hospitalized in Milwaukie for Ebola testing Health Watch: Making smart fitness goals Dr. Murray Feingold: Can shingles be prevented? Dr. Jeff Hersh: What causes a canker sore? Hiking Biking Faith Religion news: Mormon church acknowledges founder’s teen bride Marketta Gregory: Stretch yourself for God Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Milestones and Achievements Anniversary: Marin New Arrivals Dog show highlighted by $10,000 donation toward sheriff's K-9 Since You Asked: Gull species found inland Ashlanders root for Guthrie in Game 7 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Rain damage closes Darkwing Manor 'Glee' star to perform Medford concert Singer and songwriter Gene Burnett follows his bliss Spookadelic Halloween Funktacular promises a lively dance party Patty Griffin plays the Historic Ashland Armory Theater Review: Funny 'Lion in Winter' roars to life at Camelot Theatre Camelot presents 'The Lion in Winter' 'Carnage' is short, smart, darkly funny Music 'Glee' star to perform Medford concert The Farr Side: On ‘1989,’ Taylor Swift lightens up Singer and songwriter Gene Burnett follows his bliss Patty Griffin plays the Historic Ashland Armory Live Music in Local Clubs Community Events Spookadelic Halloween Funktacular promises a lively dance party Puss 'N' Boots Costume Ball and Auction Theater's haunted house not for faint of heart Third Fridays in downtown Medford Works in progress Dining Blue Toba is a cultural experience Back Porch Bar & Grill Yu's Yummy Yan's offers great take-out Agave offers tasty tacos Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Author: Islam not inherently violent ... Our View: Commissioners invest in the future ... Rain damage closes Darkwing Manor ... Author: Islam not inherently violent ... Our View: Commissioners invest in the future ... Rain damage closes Darkwing Manor ... HEALTHY AGING What are you afraid of? By Sharon Johnson for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Sharon Johnson for the Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 2, 2014 @ 12:01 am By Sharon Johnson for the Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 2, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Social News What are you most afraid of? Responding to a random thought related to all that’s going on in the news lately, I Googled the phrase, “feelings of fear in the older adult.” My query elicited this: "Big dogs, thunderstorms, public speaking, heights.” For me the answer is a longtime fear of bats. In fact, I have a hard time typing that word without a slight shiver. Which prompts me to ask, "Is there a changing shape to fear as we age?” The answer may be yes. In a 2006 research study, people of all ages were asked to rank threatening situations by looking at photographs; those photos involved extreme sports, weather disasters, etc. The oldest old “consistently rated ‘high danger pictures’ as a significantly lower threat than younger adults.” Apparently that research was not conclusive, but it got my attention and kept me thinking — which is a good thing. Geriatric mental health specialists indicate the fears common to older adults include the “fear of death, concerns about disaster events within their own families and dental procedures.” For the record, I would rather have a root canal than have to look at a photograph of a bat. There are some aspects to all this we may not have fully considered. A recent study at the University of Minnesota (my alma mater) found that a fear of ebola was “highest among people who had not paid attention during math and sciences classes.” As illustration of the vivid power of this finding, one participant in the study was told he had “a one in 13 million chance of contracting the virus.” His response was, “Whoa, 13 million is a really big number. That is totally scary.” The U of M researcher who conducted the study, Davis Logsdon, puts the number of people who did not pay attention during math and science classes at 72 percent. And then he adds (understandably), “I seriously doubt most people will know what that means.” What I think it means is: Whoa, we need to pay attention. A recent article in the Sunday New York Times (Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014) explored this further. In the piece, “What Are You So Afraid Of?” the author seemed to suggest my fear of bats might come from a childhood incident involving a bat on a bath towel in our family’s tiny bathroom. I remember the moment well, but if I did not, my siblings would be glad to provide animated and slightly exaggerated details about my noisy, hysterical reaction. The more I learn about bats, the less I fear them. The more we learn about anything that elicits fear and anxiety, whether it is an infectious disease or a terrorist threat, the better able we will be to handle it. It seems like there’s a lot of mounting fear and hysteria right now, and perhaps we older adults need to lead the way in modeling how important it is to stay calm and carry on. As for me, I am waiting for someone to remind us, as our president did in 1933, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Sharon Johnson is a retired Oregon State University associate professor emeritus. Reach her at [email protected].   By Sharon Johnson for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Sharon Johnson for the Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 2, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501