Coping with Financial Stress

Coping With Financial StressJanuary 19, 2010

Kathleen Ashton, Ph.D.The Cleveland Clinic FoundationAPA Public Education Campaign

Liaison, Ohio Psychological Association

Cleveland Psychological Association

Coping With Financial Stress

• Identify effects of financial stress• Learn effects of stress on the body

and health• Learn hands-on techniques to cope

with stress

Coping With Financial Stress

Mind/Body Health is the effective balance of physical and psychological health

What is Mind/Body Health?

Stress

• Overwhelming feelings of lack of control over our environment and an inability to change things

• Stress is pervasive, persistent and insidious because it stems from psychological rather than physical threats (American Institute of Stress)

Stress

Coping With Financial Stress

• Financial stress• Joblessness at 10%• 80% of Americans report (2008)• 50% report unhealthy coping• Eating• Alcohol

Stress and Your Body

Stress

•Stress is normal and can be optimal for certain performance related tasks.

•Stress becomes a problem when:

• it interferes with a person’s ability to do daily life tasks •it impacts health in a dangerous or risky way.

Stress

• Stress is linked to the six leading causes of death--heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide

• 43% of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress ("The Stress Solution: An Action Plan to Manage the Stress in Your Life", Lyle H. Miller, Ph.D., and Alma Dell Smith, Ph.D.)

• Two-thirds of all office visits to family physicians are due to stress-related symptoms (American Academy of Family Physicians)

The Facts About Stress

Stress

• Stress affects your body• Adrenaline increases• Muscle tension increases• Heart rate and blood pressure increase• Breathing increases• Blood flows to your large muscle groups• http://www.apa.org/flash/helpcenter/

anatomy/index.aspx

Stress

Stress and the Immune System

Stress Affects Hormones

Affects Cytokines Infection

Stress

Depression

• 20% of US population experiences an

episode of depression in their lifetime Anxiety• 19 million American adults

Stress & Emotional-Wellbeing

Stress

• Feeling overwhelmed• Anxious• Mood swings• Short temper• Rundown and tired• Headaches and body aches• Tightness in muscles• Back and neck pain

Symptoms of Stress

Stress

• Anger• Depression• Heart palpitations• Irregular menstruation cycles• Loss of sexual function • Loss of sexual desire

Additional Reactions to Stress

Stress

Coping With Financial Stress

• Coping With Stress• Take stock of what you already do to

cope with stress• Exercise• Religion/Spirituality• Talking to Social Supports• Pleasurable Activities• Relaxation

Coping With Financial Stress

• Deep Breathing• Deep breathing targets using the

diaphragm (i.e., belly breathing)• Shown to reduce blood pressure, help

sleep, help with pain

Coping With Financial Stress

• Coping With Financial Stress• Identify your stressors and make a

plan. • Examine your priorities. • Talk about your worries.• Recognize unhealthy coping

strategies• Substitute healthy for unhealthy ways

to manage stress.

Coping With Financial Stress

• Coping With Financial Stress• Consider how your stress might be

affecting your kids

Coping With Financial Stress

• Conclusions• Use healthy coping strategies• Identify how stress is affecting your

health• Increase coping• Get help when needed

• Anxiety, depression, insomnia, and substance abuse are all signs that you may need professional help

Referral Sources

• Cleveland Psychological Association• http://www.clevelandpsychology.org/

• Ohio Psychological Association

• http://www.ohpsych.org/

Stress

Free materials and information on referrals are available online: www.APAHelpCenter.org, or by calling 1-800-964-2000

.