I can only speculate, but I’d bet that pretty much everyone is stressed out about the economy these days. At least, everyone I talk to is. With the stock market jumping around like a wooden roller coaster and job security a concern for many, its not much of a surprise that this on everyone’s minds. We basically can’t escape the subject. The constant bombardment of negative news got me wondering how the economic downturn affects our health. Turns out — not well. Big shocker there, right? The real question is what to watch out for.
Stress and the economy
According to an American Psychological Association report, stress in the workplace costs businesses $300 billion per year. The report, completed in August of 2008, found that nearly half of Americans are worried about being able to provide basic needs for their families. Stress over money, the economy, work, and relationships, were all cited by as sources of stress by more than half of us. Surprisingly enough (to me), housing was cited as a “significant” source of stress for slightly less than half of survey respondents. (For the record, I would have expected more).
Layoffs around the country are a substantial source of stress too. One source cites statistics such as:
- Employees part of a mass layoff are 15% more likely to die over the following 2 years
- Chronic job insecurity over a 2-year period rivals the anxiety associated with major illness
- People report greater health problems during recessionary times
How to cope
While most of this seems intuitive, often times those are the things that overlooked. It is undeniable that the state of our economy affects our emotional well-being, which in turn impacts our health. Unfortunately, in times of stress, many of us turn to destructive behaviors. Stress eating, smoking, drinking, and gambling are four of the favorite sins we often indulge in to escape our worries. Most of the time, we don’t make a conscious decision to take up these behaviors in response to stress, but it happens nonetheless. Sadly enough, not only do they harm our health, but they don’t usually help out our economic situation either. So, what to do?
First of all, restart your exercise routine. People who are stressed out tend to sleep poorly, which only serves to increase our levels of stress. It’s well-proven that regular exercise promotes the release of endorphins and helps people sleep better. My personal experience tells me that when I’m into my workout routine, I feel better and I sleep better.
Second. The old adage — “You are what you eat” is true. See to your nutrition. If you find yourself consuming huge quantities of alcohol, nicotine, and junk food, you may get a short term “high”, but you’re guaranteed to crash. Healthy eating doesn’t have to consist of organically grown, hand-picked produce. Instead of potato chips and french fries, buy whatever fruit is in season at your local supermarket (read: cheapest), and frozen vegetables. Sure, your kids may rail against it for a time (ours do), but they’ll get over it. Ours have found that broccoli actually tastes pretty good.
Finally, if you need help coping, see a counselor. And that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to talk with a psychologist. Sometimes, just finding a confidant that you can listen to you vent is all you need. Who could fill that role? Spouse, family members, pastors, and friends can all be a source of strength in times of need. Let them know you need to talk. And who knows — one day they may need to lean on you.
