Uncontrollable Events Every morning, local authorities in Boulder, Colorado, held a public information meeting for the anxious mountain residents who had been forced to evacuate their homes. Only firefighters and emergency personnel were allowed in the dangerous area where the fire was still raging. Many shared Hawk’s sentiments, who said, “Not knowing whether my home was still standing or not—and not being able to do anything about it one way or the other—was the hardest part. All I could do was wait.” Psychological research has shown that events and situations that are perceived as being beyond your control are especially likely to cause stress (Heth & Somer, 2002). Given that, how might you be able to lessen the stressful impact of such situations?

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