Dealing with Economic Stress

With the condition of the economy, many people are feeling extreme stress. There are a lot of things to worry about, including unemployment, foreclosures, and loss of investments. There are many health risks involved with extreme stress:

- Anxiety

- Depression

- Compulsive behaviors, such as over-eating

- Substance abuse

It is important to realize that economic stress may be adversely affecting you or someone you know.

Warning signs of stress:

According to the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, these are some of the warning signs of economic stress:

- Persistent Sadness/Crying

- Excessive Anxiety

- Lack of Sleep/Constant Fatigue

- Excessive Irritability/Anger

- Increased drinking

- Illicit drug use, including misuse of medications

- Difficulty paying attention or staying focused

- Apathy - not caring about things that are usually important to you

- Not being able to function as well at work, school or home

If you are feeling overwhelmed to the point you think you can’t function, you may need to seek the help of someone else to help you through the rough times. Here are some people to consider:

- Healthcare provider

- Spiritual leader

- School counselor

- Community health clinic

For more information on dealing with economic stress, check out these links:

Getting Through Tough Economic Times (Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration)

Get Help if Unemployed (if you’re facing home foreclosure) (Making Home Affordable.gov)

Making Home Affordable home page