Coping with Financial Stress

1. Coping with Financial Stress Coping With Financial Stress January 19, 2010 Kathleen Ashton, Ph.D. The Cleveland Clinic Foundation APA Public Education Campaign Liaison, Ohio Psychological Association Cleveland Psychological Association

2. 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

3. Coping With Financial Stress Mind/Body Health is the effective balance of physical and psychological health What is Mind/Body Health?

4. Stress 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)

5. Coping With Financial Stress • Financial stress • Joblessness at 10% • 80% of Americans report (2008) • 50% report unhealthy coping • Eating • Alcohol

6. Stress Stress and Your Body • 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.

7. Stress The Facts About 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)

8. 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

9. Stress Stress and the Immune System Stress Affects Hormones Affects Cytokines Infection

10. Stress Stress & Emotional-Wellbeing Depression • 20% of US population experiences an episode of depression in their lifetime Anxiety • 19 million American adults

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

12. Stress Additional Reactions to Stress • Anger • Depression • Heart palpitations • Irregular menstruation cycles • Loss of sexual function • Loss of sexual desire

13. Stress

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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.

17. Coping With Financial Stress • Coping With Financial Stress • Consider how your stress might be affecting your kids

18. 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

19. Referral Sources • Cleveland Psychological Association • http://www.clevelandpsychology.org/ • Ohio Psychological Association • http://www.ohpsych.org/

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