“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared at his inaugural at the depth of the Great Depression.

Sixty-eight years later, it is wise to remember his words again, and his definition of fear: ?nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror.? Fear has gripped our workplaces, our communities. Schools plan germ warfare drills. Gas masks fly off the shelves. People cancel home sales, flights, trips. People are paralyzed by uncertainty, which is exactly what terrorists want.

Clearly, it is time to get a grip. In an excellent article in the Sept. 30 New York Times Magazine, economist Paul Krugman attributed the 12-year Great Depression not to a single cause, such as a stock market crash, but to a deepening dread and fear that froze purchases, ruined demand, shuttered businesses and shattered lives.

It could happen again - or we could avoid it, if we keep our heads clear and examine how we are behaving. Many of us refuse to fly. Yet airplanes are safer than they have been in years. Indeed, even on the morning of Sept. 11, it would have been safer to step on a plane than to drive to work on a busy interstate. Some of us are obsessively turning to news channels and websites in the middle of a workday to keep abreast of the latest developments, although getting too distracted simply thwarts our own attempts at economic well-being. Others are struggling to focus at work, citing anxiety about the attacks and the economy. In such cases - more often than not - the anxiety and trauma were dormant before the Sept. 11 attacks.

There is no question these are difficult days. We have all been shaken. Many in New York and Washington are coping with symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder. Many of us who have lost loved ones, friends and colleagues need to talk it through withy a professionals. Others can benefit from a confidential, friendly pep talk from a colleague or superior. It is important for all of us to reach out to troubled people, show concern, and make them feel part of a greater team. The prescription for well-being is companionship, exercise, rest, and a sense of purpose.

The best therapy is to focus on tasks. A good day’s work goes a long way toward creating a good night’s sleep.