Stock markets have plunged and are bouncing around, people have seen their retirement funds and their children’s education savings drastically decline, house prices are falling, many mortgages are due for refinancing, jobs are being cut, groceries cost more…

Maybe the economic downturn hasn’t affected your pocketbook…yet, but you could still be feeling the symptoms of stress. (A recent American survey suggests 8 out of 10 people are feeling stress and worry over money. And some people are scared to death!)

Although across the border in Canada the crisis isn’t as bad, many people are uncertain about the future…and even the next day! And around the world there is concern about a global recession.

Add to that the stress of coping with the death of a loved one and you may be sitting there and saying, “What am I going to do next? How am I going to get through this?”

The negative effects of too much stress associated with being under pressure can affect your health. In fact, severe stress can cause biochemical changes in your body, affecting your immune system and leaving your body vulnerable to disease!

Yikes!

So what can you do?

Start thinking about what you can do to relieve the problem.

Take control over the issues you can manage.

And come up with a good action plan taking some steps. –Maybe that means cutting back on extras for the time being, or simplifying your life, or making different financial decisions and day-to-day changes.

In my next Blog post I’ll talk about specific de-stressing strategies that can be done immediately to bring you some relief.

Melanie Hack
Author of Who Killed My Sister, My friend
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