Keeping your wits while the economy tanks
10:22 p.m. Thursday, October 9, 2008
If Becky Richmond thinks of anxiety, what's the first thing that comes to her mind?
"Well, the economy," she said.
1,900 points down in just 7 days are numbers to frighten anyone, no matter what age.
At 81, Barbara Winders went back to work a year ago just to make ends meet.
"I had thought I was going to quit and after all of this has happened, I thought definitely I'm not going to quit work," Winders said.
Those survival skills are something therapists say are important .
"Things may get rough. You may lose a lot, but then you'll find you're going to gain even more," Valeo social worker Karen Sexton said.
Sexton says to limit the amount of media intake...
"There's more and more news, it's more stimulation than most of us can take," she said.
We found a shopper who is on the right track.
"Share stories with co-workers and try to at least feel like I'm not in this by myself. We're all in this together."
Those strong interpersonal relationships can be a lifesaver.
"We find just how simple we can live life. Like I've had people say, 'I could learn to live out of a suitcase...that's not what's important. What's important is my family,'" Sexton said.
Still, being practical even in the rocky times is important.
Becky richmond
"Thinking about retirement and future and I'm 50, a few more years just trying to build up that nest egg," Richmond said.
And if you are facing losing the house, or having the electric turned off, Sexton says the worst thing you can do is ignore it.
"Many times when I have people sit down and put things on paper, that this is what I need to have and this is what I can let go of, that they find they're able to work things out," Sexton said.
Finally, if you feel yourself getting anxious, spend time having fun to get your mind off of the economy.
Friday at Valeo, they will be doing free mental health screenings from noon to 4 p.m.
Related story: Bad economy taking physical, psychological toll
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