Take Y2K anxiety to the couch
To address growing concerns about the Year 2000, a therapist network will hold free online therapy sessions during a one-day event later this year.
On what has been dubbed "Y2K Anxiety Day," December 1, 1999, experts on calming anxiety about the Year 2000 will be available by email and online chat forums on the 1-800-Therapist Web site, and by videoconferencing and phone, according to the therapist search service.
Web users will also be able to see a licensed therapist in real-time on the Internet and have their email questions answered while they watch.
Every new century has traditionally spurred anxiety amongst the
population. With the added technological glitches anticipated in the Year 2000, even
the most calm-headed people have at least a few concerns about the new
century.
The Y2K bug comes from antiquated hardware and software formats that denote years in two-digit formats, such as "98" for 1998 and "99" for 1999. The glitch will occur in 2000, when computers are either fooled into thinking the year is 1900 or interpret the 2000 as a meaningless "00." The glitch could throw out of whack everything from bank systems to building security procedures, observers warn.
The therapy network is traditionally a therapist search network for the media. The service was founded in 1979 by L. James Grold M.D, whose son, Dr. Kevin Grold, now runs the program and is coordinating the December event.