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.
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.
Comments