A Guide For Getting Through Tough Economic Times

Economic turmoil (increased unemployment, foreclosures, loss of investments and other financial distress) can result in a whole host of negative health effects – both physical and mental. It can be particularly devastating to your emotional and mental well-being. Although each of us is affected differently by economic troubles, these problems can add tremendous stress, which in turn can substantially increase the risk for developing such problems as:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Compulsive Behaviors (over-eating, excessive gambling, spending, etc.)
• Substance Abuse

Warning Signs

It is important to be aware of signs that financial problems may be adversely affecting your emotional or mental well being–or that of someone you care about. These signs include:

• 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

Managing Stress

If you are experiencing these symptoms, you are not alone. These are common reactions to stress, and there are coping techniques that you can use to help manage it. They include:

• Trying to keep things in perspective – recognize the good aspects of life and retain hope for the future.
• Strengthening connections with family and friends who can provide important emotional support.
• Engaging in activities such as physical exercise, sports or hobbies that can relieve stress and anxiety.
• Developing new employment skills that can provide a practical and highly effective means of coping and directly address financial difficulties.

Getting Help

Even with these coping techniques, these problems can seem overwhelming and you may need additional help to get through “rough patches.” Fortunately, there are many people and services that can provide help. These include:

• Healthcare providers
• Spiritual leaders
• School counselors
• Community health clinics

Specific help for financial hardship is also available, on issues such as:

• Making Home Affordable (www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/pages/default.aspx)
• Foreclosure (http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/topics/avoiding_foreclosure)
• Reemployment (www.careeronestop.org/ReEmployment/Default.aspx)
• Financial assistance (www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Benefits.shtml)

Suicide Warning Signs

Unemployment and other kinds of financial distress do not “cause” suicide directly, but they can be factors that interact dynamically within individuals and affect their risk for suicide. These financial factors can cause strong feelings such as humiliation and despair, which can precipitate suicidal thoughts or actions among those who may already be vulnerable to having these feelings because of life-experiences or underlying mental or emotional conditions (e.g., depression, bi-polar disorder) that place them at greater risk of suicide.

These are some of the signs you may want to be aware of in trying to determine whether you or someone you care about could be at risk for suicide:

• Threatening to hurt or kill oneself or talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself
• Looking for ways to kill oneself
• Thinking or fantasying about suicide
• Acting recklessly
• Seeing no reason for living or having no sense of purpose in life

If you or someone you care about are having suicidal thoughts or showing these symptoms SEEK IMMEDIATE HELP. Contact Stanly Regional Medical Center or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for help.

Source: Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, http://www.samhsa.gov/economy/http://www.samhsa.gov/economy/