Economy

Artwork by Andy Warhol

The current economic crisis has been a disaster for many individuals and families, to say the least. 

As has been pointed out in Parts 1 and 2 of this series, the recession is causing almost unbearable stress and anxiety to untold millions of Americans. For some, it is pushing them into harmful behaviors and mental illness. Yet, however bad your situation is, there are things you can do to help alleviate some of the stress and anxiety it is causing you.

This is the third part of a four-part series on “Surviving the Recession.” Today’s installment has 15 tips to help you regain control of your finances, your emotional life, and your relationships. Tomorrow’s post, “Surviving the Recession, Part 4: 16 More Things You Can Do to Regain Control“ has 16 more tips, for a total of 31. 

The tips are presented in no particular order. They come from over 20 different sources, each with a particular point of view. There may be some overlap, there even may be some contradictions, but there is a wealth of good advice among them. I hope that the main thing you come away with is that you can be proactive; you can maintain control over your life even in the worst of times.

Be sure to read the first and second parts of this series. The first, “Surviving the Recession, Part 1: What It’s Doing to Us,” discusses the effects of financial crisis on Americans under these subject headings:

• How are people handling the recession?
• Women in particular are stressed by the economy
• What the recession and economic worry are doing to us

“Surviving the Recession, Part 2: Anxiety, Harmful Behavior, and Paralysis” is the second part of the series, and deals with how the recession is affecting our mental health. It covers the topics:

• Economic stress and mental disorders
• Excessive worry may lead to Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• If you’re stressed out, anxious or depressed, avoid turning to harmful behavior
• Paralyzing yourself: Denial and catastrophizing

[Read the entire article...]

Tagged as: Anxiety, Anxiety Disorder, Economy, Recession, Stress

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Artwork by Andy Warhol

The sustained economic tensions of the recession are taking a dire toll on Americans.

Stress and anxiety are now everyday demons threatening to overcome your life, rendering you helpless and hopeless.

In this climate, many Americans are finding that their stress and anxiety are growing to the point where they are more than annoyances, but real problems in and of themselves. We see more and more people self-medicating with alcohol and drugs. Others curl up in a ball of denial, hoping it will all just go away.

This series of 4 articles about surviving the recession offers an understanding of the situation that so many of us find ourselves in, as well as positive suggestions to help you regain control of your life and finances. 

Today’s installment details how stress and anxiety can tip you over into Anxiety Disorder or other mental illnesses, as well as leading to harmful behaviors. It covers these topics:

• Economic stress and mental disorders
• Excessive worry may lead to Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• If you’re stressed out, anxious or depressed, avoid turning to harmful behaviors
• Paralyzing yourself: Denial and catastrophizing

The final two installments, “Surviving the Recession, Part 3: 15 Things You Can Do to Regain Control,” and “Surviving the Recession, Part 4: 16 More Things You Can Do to Regain Control” is a list of proactive steps that you can take to regain control, not only of your financial situation, but your and your family’s lives. It will be published tomorrow.

Be sure to read yesterday’s installment, “Surviving the Recession, Part 1: What It’s Doing to Us.” It discusses what the recession is doing to us, and has the following sections:

• How are people handling the recession?
• Women in particular are stressed by the economy
• What the recession and economic worry are doing to us

[Read the entire article...]

Tagged as: Anxiety, Anxiety Disorder, Economy, Recession, Stress

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Artwork by Andy Warhol

With the nation’s housing market in a ditch, the stock market in freefall, food prices rising, and government bailouts making the news almost every day, it’s no surprise that so many people are feeling anxious and stressed about the economy and their financial futures.

Anxiety and mild stress are a normal reactions to these events. It’s your body’s way of telling you to stay alert and work harder to protect your finances and your family’s future.

But with the nation in a recession, more Americans are feeling panicky about their future, leading to a remarkable increase in stress about their finances and job.

More than that, local and national mental health experts say that the loss of jobs, homes and retirement savings has triggered an increase in the number of people with symptoms related to toxic stress, Anxiety, or depression, such as changes in sleeping and eating patterns, headaches, and nervousness.

This series of 4 articles about surviving the recession offers an understanding about the situation so many of us find ourselves in, as well as positive suggestions to help you regain control of your life and finances. Today’s installment covers what the recession is doing to us, and has the following sections:

• How are people handling the recession?
• Women in particular are stressed by the economy
• What the recession and economic worry are doing to us

Part 2, “Surviving the Recession, Part 2: Anxiety, Harmful Behavior, and Paralysis” details how stress can tip you over into Anxiety or other mental disorders, and can lead to harmful behaviors. It will have these sections:

• Economic stress and mental disorders
• Excessive worry may lead to Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• If you’re stressed out, anxious or depressed, avoid turning to harmful behaviors
• Paralyzing yourself: Denial and catastrophizing

The final 2 installments, “Surviving the Recession, Part 3: 15 Things You Can Do to Regain Control,” and  ”Surviving the Recession, Part 4: 16 More Things You Can Do to Regain Control“ are lists of proactive steps that you can take to take back control, not only of your financial situation, but your and your family’s life.

[Read the entire article...]

Tagged as: Anxiety, Anxiety Disorder, Economy, Recession, Stress

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