Stress Management for Today’s Economy Part 1
Stress & Today’s Economy
You can’t turn on a television set these days without hearing about the economy. Phrases like “these tough economic times,” “economic woes,” or “recession fears” dominate the news. Everywhere we look, stores are going out of business. People are losing their jobs. Companies are going bankrupt. The amount of stress we were already facing had hit its peak, and now it’s increasing even more. How do you handle the stress of an economy that seems like it’s headed straight down the toilet?
Right now more than half of Americans are reporting irritability, anger, fatigue, and insomnia. Almost half say they overeat or eat junk food to deal with all the stress. And the number one stressor right now? It’s money, according to 80 percent of those surveyed by the American Psychological Association. People used to be worried about their relationships or jobs. Now people are more worried about whether they will even have a job tomorrow. This new top stressor is one of basic survival, which makes it much more worse than other typical worries.
More Cases of Stress
As the economic downturn continues, doctors and therapists are reporting more cases of stress and stress-induced illness. Cardiologists are reporting an increase in symptoms in the patients they were already treating, along with a rise in the number of new patients they see each week. Heart doctors say they’re finding themselves renewing nitroglycerin prescriptions for patients that had been doing well previously. Doctors are also having to increase the dosage of other medications for some patients. Do you remember when Lehman Brothers went bankrupt recently? Cardiologists report that they are now treating a number of former Lehman Brothers employees who are coming in with chest pain and other symptoms.
Another place we see more indications that stress is on the rise is in the emergency room. ER doctors are reporting a greater number of people coming in with breathing problems or heart problems, but tests show no actual problems with the patients’ lungs or heart. Doctors also say they’re prescribing more anxiety medicines these days, either increasing the dosage for their patients or, in some cases, prescribing a second medicine for additional treatment.
Family Concerns
One of the most difficult things about going through a recession is the problems economic stress can cause at home. Because money is the basis for the stress, every part of our lives is affected, but it’s when our stress hits us at home that it becomes much more personal.
Over half of Americans polled by the American Psychological Association said they had had an argument at home, and most of these people say they’re arguing with their spouse. Stress alone can make you irritable, and when the worry that’s causing you to be stressed is as basic as your family’s survival, tempers are bound to be even shorter. What can make things seem even more stressful is the belief we all seem to have that we must pretend everything is alright, even if it isn’t. You especially shouldn’t be putting on a face like this for your spouse, and you don’t even need this face for your closest friends. Everyone knows the economy is in bad shape. It’s not breaking news. So give yourself a break for a moment and let the people who care about you help you to feel better.
The family concerns present in our troubled economy today are also coming out in a higher crime rate. Domestic violence is on the rise as frayed nerves dangle people at the end of their rope. Many people also turn to crime as a survival tactic if they’re struggling financially, but there are plenty of other ways to cope with the stress brought on by a recession.
Continued in Part 2
