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Entry bubble How Ya Doing?

By: Nancy | October 02, 2008 | Category: Health

Economic and political headlines. Work situations and career changes. Health and home. I don't think I can name anybody I know who hasn't experienced an increase in their stress level this past week.

stressed man with hands claspedAdult or kid, everyday life or traumatic event, stress sure is inevitable. And it's so easy to react to it unconsciously, whether you're stocking up on comfort food or battling physical symptoms like headaches or insomnia. The last time I was under a lot of stress, I developed a tic in my right eye. Half the people on the subway thought I was flirting with them.

Take a look at some of these tips on managing stress in a healthy way and then I'd love to hear: how has stress been affecting you lately, physically or mentally? What are you doing to cope with it (good or bad)? While I'm waiting to hear from you, I'll go have a cookie. And some aspirin.

| Post a Comment | View Comments [11] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: economy   health   nancy   stress  

Comments (11):

blue comment bubble Posted by Bluehawk on October 02, 2008 at 09:22 AM EDT

My "stress level" would decrease considerably if businesses and our government would CEASE living off of ever-expanding credit!

Other than that, life is pretty good all by itself.

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blue comment bubble Posted by geekyartistlibrarian on October 02, 2008 at 09:54 AM EDT

I'm trying to fulfill a residency requirement for my PhD, so I'm taking 9 hours while working full-time, commuting an hour each way, and living with my in-laws. The financial crisis has at least put my attention somewhere other than homework. And that tic? It's in my left eye.

Save a cookie for me? :)

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blue comment bubble Posted by NBTsenior on October 02, 2008 at 10:40 AM EDT

Stress gets me mentally first and then physically (asthma and allergies start acting up). Helps alot to have a few really special persons in my life that let me vent when things build up. My husband does the "if there is nothing I can do about it then let it go" thing very well. He is trying to teach me. Journaling also helps. Eating Dairy Queen Blizzards, Oreo cookies, and dark chocolate help too! My Mother has Alzheimer's and is in a special home. I am learning to trust the people taking care of her and letting go of her. This is reducing a lot of the daily stress. I have stopped worrying and getting upset with Washington D.C. politicians. Politics and Politicians will never change. I always vote in any election, whether local or national.

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blue comment bubble Posted by sapphirez on October 02, 2008 at 12:15 PM EDT

I am having to help support my grown children and their families because of the exorbitant increases we have had in rents, cost of food, utilities, gasoline, and even diapers...the wages have not kept up. In the current economic political debates, our representatives and presidential candidates talk about two classes of people needing the 'bailout' - upper and middle. No one has mentioned those struggling poor, who teeter daily on not having enough food stamps before this next rise in cost takes affect; who work full time at jobs slightly above the minimum wage and can't afford the high rent, afraid they will lose the roof over their head before their name reaches the top of the five year waiting list for housing subsidy. I continue on in PhD school, work two jobs, babysit the grandkids, coordinate everyone's schedule to best cover costs and live economically, etc. Currently we have three generations living within the same two-bedroom mobile home. If someone wanted to push the matter, we could be legally evicted from the mobile home park due to our overcrowded situation. Imagine the struggle of those who are a step or more poorer then us! RAISE THE FOODSTAMPS, INCREASE THE HOUSING SUBSIDIES, FREEZE THE COST OF RENT AND UTILITIES...do something for this ignored third class of people in our mighty United States of America so we, too, can survive this economic crisis that will hit hardest on the ones with the least already.

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blue comment bubble Posted by hockeymomsRULE on October 02, 2008 at 12:29 PM EDT

This stress can be summed up in two words: money-greed! The crash of Wall Street is the result, - NOT- of the Bush administration, but rather, the lusty greed of Wall Street's fat cats, Washington's lobbyists, and corporate corruption! In this uncertain economic time, we as Americans need to hold on to traditional American values, downsize our super-sized lifestyles, and realize what is REALLY important in life...health, family, friends; and how about lending a helping hand to those who are hurting? After all...it could be YOU.

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blue comment bubble Posted by thomas on October 02, 2008 at 01:02 PM EDT

It seems of late that I have had way to many nights staring at the clock unable to fall asleep worrying about if I am going still have a job when I show up at work the next day. I know that I should not worry about the next day and just live the current day to the best of my ability. I am thankful for friends here and far away who remind me of this. Well, it is getting about time to turn on webr and listen to some good music and let my worries fade way.

Thomas

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blue comment bubble Posted by TheOtherGuy on October 03, 2008 at 06:38 AM EDT

The crash of wall street and the mortgage industry is the result of mismanagement over the last 20 years. When the market was hot and people felt confident they took on risks that they would never dream of in a normal economy, then it all blew up in their faces.

What is this BS about banks being to big to fail? Is that not why we have anti-trust laws? to keep an individual entitty from having so much sway over the economy and nation? Seems to me that if our leaders were doing their jobs, Republican and Democrat alike, this was completely foreseeable and preventable. I saw it 12 years ago when i saw the first "interest only loans" and "125% mortgages" Greedy people taking on risk that outweighed their collateral. Yeah, it paid off for a while till all thos bad credit risks added up to one great big default.

Thankfully, as a fellow fed, i don't have to worry about my job security, but I do have to worry about the rest of my family.

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blue comment bubble Posted by skeets on October 05, 2008 at 01:08 AM EDT

Since I work full-time plus and am taking two classes at the Masters level, I don't have time to be stressed about anything besides my work and study load. I simplified my life long ago, and am very careful about expenses. I could afford to pay my mortgage even if I was on unemployment (no small feat in the area where I live), and have a fix-rate loan. Too many people and too many businesses borrow too much. Including the government. AND, the same people who complain about "high taxes" and "big government" are the first in line for a bail-out from the government when their risky schemes collapse.

My rule is that if I can pay for a big purchase in three months, it is ok to buy it. If not, I don't buy. I do without a lot of things that other people consider necessary, but still have money to contribute to good causes and do something fun occassionally. My parents taught me to live "beneath" my means. That does a lot to relieve stress.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Teofilo on October 05, 2008 at 09:18 PM EDT

My brother just came from a visit to the island that saw him growing up. He told us a story of a very quiet place where the bus driver, at the bus stop, waited so they could finish a little
chat.

He is very happy to be in "...my country..." and going back to his part-time so that he can spend a few dollars playing cards with friends also on retirement.

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blue comment bubble Posted by academic guy on October 06, 2008 at 05:02 PM EDT

i am right there with skeets. peace out.

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blue comment bubble Posted by kdallas999 on October 06, 2008 at 07:30 PM EDT

I'm stressed because I see such lack of regard for each other among our fellow country men (and women). We've been living in an every man for himself culture over the past few weeks and I really don't like it.

My successes and triumphs in life have come because others took an interest in me. Many mentors helped me along my 25 year career path from part time receptionist to CEO of my own tech company. They offered me guidance, comfort, introductions and sometimes even funding. Maybe I would have made it without them. But when I look back, I know that in many (if not all) cases - I really needed them.

The financial crisis and election have people shouting at each other, blogging like mad, name calling, misrepresenting, blah... It make we wonder if we'll ever be able to come together to solve these problems. And I know, that whether you're the President of the United States or the guy selling hot dogs near the bridge in Brooklyn, people need people - no major successes are done alone.

To deal with my stress, I have to do a lot of positive self talk. I've also spent time looking back at the champions of major breakthroughs in the U.S. and I've realized that they all faced nearly impossible odds and still found a way to make a positive difference.

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