Anxiety and Stress over Financial Issues

These days, picking up a newspaper can cause anxiety in people with the coolest of temperaments, due to a recession that has already lasted more than a year and shows few signs of ending any time soon. More than 5 million Americans have lost their jobs since the beginning of 2008, according to news reports. Since the start of the recession, roughly 3.7 million Americans have lost their health insurance.

Anxiety and Financial Issues: Rising Stress Levels

In a series of recent surveys, the American Psychological Association found that almost half of Americans felt that their stress had gone up during the previous year and 80 percent said the economy was a major source of their stress.

Nowadays, a lot of people are discussing their anxiety over financial issues with mental health professionals.

"What I'm finding is that many people who are already in therapy are talking more about the economy and its impact on their lives," says Jerilyn Ross, MA, a psychotherapist who is president of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America and director of the Ross Center for Anxiety & Related Disorders in Washington, D.C. "We're seeing people who were in therapy a while back for depression or anxiety, and they're coming back into treatment now saying that their stress levels are up. And we're seeing more new patients coming in for the first time."Even clients with relatively secure jobs and money in the bank are reporting anxiety, says Ross. "Whether they're being personally touched by it or not, people are being affected by the economy," she notes.

Anxiety and Financial Issues: De-stress, Not Distress

In some cases, "productive anxiety" can actually be helpful, says Ross. This type of anxiety can spur you to brush up on neglected job skills or do more employment-related networking. But becoming too anxious over financial issues can affect your relationships with the people around you and can even be bad for your health.

Here are some ways to protect your sense of well-being and manage your anxiety.

• Keep a diary. For at least two weeks, keep an anxiety journal. This could be just a simple notebook that you carry in your pocket. When you're feeling anxious, make note of when your feelings arise, and also record the thoughts, behaviors, and activities that are going on when you feel the anxiety.

  "A lot of times people say, 'I'm so stressed all the time, I just can't stop worrying,'” explains Ross, who is also author of One Less Thing to Worry About. "Then when they start keeping these little diaries, they start to look at patterns." Perhaps you always start feeling antsy around 3 p.m., which could mean that you're getting hungry or that you need to take a walk. Or maybe that's when your spouse calls and you often have a disagreement.

• Keep up healthy habits. When people are dealing with big worries like financial issues, they frequently stop doing the things that usually make them feel good, like exercising, socializing with friends, or getting enough sleep. After reviewing one client's anxiety diary, Ross noted that the client was bringing a laptop computer to bed and then waking up in the middle of the night to search for jobs online. This habit was clearly detracting from a good night's rest.

  If you have an activity that relaxes you, such as specific hobby or exercise class, treat it as a priority, even if you have to set aside time on your calendar to do it, Ross suggests. She also recommends only using your bedroom for sleeping and intimacy.

• Think realistically. If you find that you're thinking catastrophically, re-evaluate the validity of such negative thoughts. The economy goes through cycles, Ross says, and it will eventually get better. Losing your job doesn't make you a "loser," and you'll eventually find another one, even if it takes a little longer than you'd like.

Financial issues can be a source of stress for all of us. Keeping these concerns in perspective, eating well, exercising, and getting adequate rest can help offset excess anxiety during these challenging times.

via www.everydayhealth.com