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
.
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