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Oct 7, 2008 6:32 pm US/Eastern
Coping With Economic Anxiety
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
When it comes to the economy, who's worried more -- men or women?
"We all have our investments, you know. Yeah, I'm worried about it," says George Doerr of Butler.
So is Candy Acklin of Greentree: "Worried about not being able to make a living, worried about losing our jobs, you know, all the cut backs."
The downturn in the economy is taking its toll, both emotionally and physically.
And you may be surprised who is bearing the brunt of the financial stress.
An American Psychiatric Association survey of more than 2,000 people shows eight out of ten Americans are stressed out because of the economy. And women are more likely to report stress related to this -- 84 percent, compared to 75 percent for men.
"Women are more likely to be the head of the household in a single parent family," explains Michael Franzen, a neuropsychologist at Allegheny General Hospital. "They're more likely to be in a situation where their economic position is more precarious, and they're closer to the edge."
Job stability, family health concerns, and housing costs are weighing on the minds of American women across a wide range of ages.
Some people are coping in unhealthy ways, for example, eating poorly, and even shopping.
"One of the things that happens to people who shop when they're under stress is that the sense of acquiring something actually makes them feel better or more whole," says Dr. Franzen.
Emotional stress can lead to physical symptoms, like head aches, stomach aches, moodiness, and sleep problems.
The key is to pay attention to these clues, and get help if the problems persist.
"The effects of this sort of thing on most of the people are relatively short-lived, and it's the sort of thing that if they get some good coping, they'll be able to weather it," says Dr. Franzen.
When you're under stress, it becomes even more important to look after yourself.
Be aware of your eating patterns -- get more exercise, even if it's just a simple walk around the block every night.
Also, get support if you're feeling stressed out -- just talking to other people and seeing you're not alone can be helpful.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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