Living from paycheck to paycheck… getting a loan to pay off another loan… filing of bankruptcy — these are situations faced by thousands if not millions of Americans who have somehow buried themselves in debt. No wonder, many people are increasingly being diagnosed with depression. The sordid financial trouble people face leads them to more negative thoughts of hopelessness, insecurity, and desperation. Four years ago, the U.S. Federal Reserve reported that consumer debt had already hit $1.98 trillion. The figure was the aggregate amount of debt from credit card and car loans alone. The total debt for mortgages was not included in the said figure. The American Bankruptcy Institute also came up with a report which indicated that 1.6 million Americans filed for bankruptcy in 2003. Credit card debt figures for 2005 was reported to have reached $753 billion in debt for the United States alone. Based on recent estimates, the average American household has $18,700 in debt. But why do many people fall into debt? One major reason for indebtedness is uncontrolled spending. The lack of control over spending habits starts a cycle of spending more money than what one makes; and the compulsion to apply for a loan to acquire more things. In some cases, the loans are made just to repay other previous loans. In terms of credit card abuse, a person falls into debt not only because the list of payables grows long. A person falls deeper into debt because of the interest. It is not surprising to hear of people who have been in credit card debt for such a long time. After excessive use of the credit card and no increase in their capacity to pay, they are left to face the reality that they are only able to pay-off the interest without decreasing the principal amount of debt. Aside from the interest, not paying a debt on time also spells trouble for the undisciplined card holder since late payments entail a “late payment penalty.” Late payment charges can can range anywhere from ten dollars to forty dollars. Using the credit card over one’s credit limit will also entail an over-the-limit fee which usually starts at $39 per transaction. The next logical question is, “Why do people overspend?” Many people seem to have lost control over their finances because of status anxiety, an emotional and psychological problem that makes a person feel insecure about his or her sense of personal worth and significance. It can also be a compulsion to become or appear to be popular, wealthy, and “above everybody else.” Many call this, in layman’s terms, trying to “keep up with the Joneses.” If a neighbor passes by sporting a brand new car, a socially insecure person would might feel the need to rush to the bank to get a car loan since he can no longer “afford” to be seen driving a 2001 Nissan sedan even if he really cannot afford to pay for a 2007 Mercedez Benz SLK Class that comes at $43, 500 plus loan interest. Seeing an officemate brandishing the 4-gigabyte i-Phone worth $499 instantly creates a need to buy the 8-gigabyte model worth $599. This desire to be seen as good or even better than one’s neighbors in terms or social standing, material possessions, and influence is a cause of anxiety for many people. Financial woes have also increased the level of stress and anxiety among individuals who have uncontrolled spending habits and social insecurity. The emotional and psychological problems brought about by financial difficulties are also causes of physical illness that include migraine headaches, depressive behavior, heart ailments, to name a few. So, how can people stop themselves from committing financial self-destruction? One easy step is to inquire from the credit card company if they offer free consumer debt counseling. This form of counseling focuses on helping consumers learn the wise uses of credit and various strategies for debt payment and reduction. The usual advice starts with the theme of “not spending more than what you earn.” This advice is usually followed by convincing the person in debt to list and determine what accounts should be settled first. Almost as a given, many credit counselors also try to convince people to start on a savings plan. Professional debt counseling services also include the more technical process of computing taxes, interest rates, and payment timelines that should be followed by an over-spender who really want to regain financial freedom. Frivolous spending may actually be more than just a case of financial illiteracy or lack of discipline in money matters. In some cases, people with enormous debt must also consult a psychologist or psychiatrist to determine the root causes of overspending. Living from paycheck to paycheck…paying one loan after another is surely not the way to live. There is a way to financial freedom, and everyone must start by making a financial choice of using money for what one merely wants or for what one really needs.
Tag-Archive for ◊ Stress and anxiety ◊
“Remember that there is nothing stable in human affairs; therefore, avoid undue elation in prosperity, or undue depression in adversity.” – Socrates Every single day, Cindy (not her real name) felt utter, total despair that could be compared with the kind desperation that drove the famous grunge band singer Kurt Cobain to commit suicide. According to Cindy, she was only 23 years old when she got married and had a baby early in the marriage. She said that the first time she held her baby, she did not feel the joy and excitement that were usually felt by first-time mothers. In fact, she said that she felt numb… as if she was stuck in a proverbial black hole. She could not explain the sadness that she felt. Even if she was afraid to admit it, deep inside, she did not feel that she wanted to take care of her baby. Her emotional instability strained her relationship with her husband, family, and friends. She tried to hide it from her husband but she felt really miserable about her situation as a new bride and new mother. To make it worse, she felt guilty about having all those melancholic feelings. The medicines she took to alleviate her sadness did not work. She suffered side-effects like nausea, migraine headaches, muscle spasms, and cramps. Upon the prodding of her husband and family, she went to another doctor who gave her a complete examination. Unlike the usual medical check-up, the doctor spent more time speaking with Cindy about how she felt and though about her new situation as a young mother. After some time, the doctor finally identified what was wrong with Cindy. He said that Cindy was suffering from Postpartum Depression. Beyond the Blues Postpartum Depression (PD) is caused by a number of factors that vary from individual to individual. First-time mothers experience some degree of depression during the first weeks after birth. This happens when hormonal changes takes place and affects the emotions. Experiences may vary but some of the most common symptoms of PD are: l anxiety panic attack l persistent low mood l helplessness l exhaustion l insomnia l not eating or overeating l inability to cope with routine task l withdrawal from the outside world Coping with Post-Partum Depression Postpartum Depression (PD) cannot be determined through a simple diagnostic test. It takes a lot of experience to know if a woman is suffering from PD. The key is to convince the woman to undergo a treatment method or therapy such as counseling, group sessions, and psychotherapy. Alternative therapies such as constitutional homeopathy and acupuncture also work for some women. Being a new mother could be very stressful for the few months but it won’t last forever. In addition, to the available medications and therapies, here are more useful tips to cope with postpartum depression: l Make your day as simple as possible. Don’t do heavy tasks that leave you feeling so exhausted. l Avoid undue pressures. l Involve your partner in taking care of the baby. l Divide the household chores between you and your partner. l Get some sleep or rest when the baby is sleeping. l Schedule some time out to go to the park. Have a picnic or watch a good movie. l Have a good time with your best friend or group of friends. l Have a good laugh. l Get some exercise. With enough love and support from your husband, family, and close friends — you can overcome your postpartum blues in no time.
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Robert and Meryl were seen by their friends as the perfect couple. They started out as high school sweethearts and were even voted the King and Queen of Hearts during their senior prom night. Their sweet, innocent relationship in high school became more serious as the years went by. They married soon after finishing college. The first few months of marriage was nothing but bliss. The couple lived in the proverbial paradise on earth as they enjoyed each other’s company as newlyweds. People would often see them walking hand in hand as they strolled along the beach. They still regularly went out on a movie date just like they used to in high school. However, on their third year of marriage, things slowly began to change. Friends and family began to wonder why, after three years of marriage, the couple was still childless. Soon enough, Robert and Meryl also began to feel the pressure and frustration of not having a child to call their own. The empty nest began to take a toll on their romance as the feelings of incompleteness began to seep in. Soon after, Meryl began showing signs of obsession about getting pregnant. Ironically, her desire to have a baby caused a rift between her and her husband. Depression cast a dark cloud on their relationship as Meryl developed strong feelings of inadequacy for not having been able to conceive after several years of marriage. Robert also had to grapple with his own stress and anxiety about being childless. He would often feel embarassed about not having any stories about his own child whenever his friends would open up the topic of marriage and family during their regular get-togethers. The couple also found family reunions and other occasions with relatives to be quite awkward. The couple would often be surrounded by children of their siblings and relatives, all time wondering if they would ever have children of their own. Robert and Meryl always had to dodge questions about the fact that they were still without child. The worse thing that happened about Robert and Meryl’s relationship is that they slowly began to blame each other. The stress and anxiety in their relationship almost took a toll on their marriage. Far from the almost idyllic relationship they had when they first started as a newlyweds, the couple began to have more and more fights. A concerned friend mustered enough courage to ask the couple to consider going to a counselor. The couple’s friend also advised them to see a doctor who specializes in fertility issues. Fortunately, the couple decided to follow their friend’s advice. After a series of tests, the doctor told Meryl and Robert that she was perfectly capable of conceiving a child. The doctor also advised Robert to get more sleep and rest periods that would help him improve his sperm count. Like Robert and Meryl, many couples experience problems with infertility. In fact, in the Unites States alone, an estimated six million couples face infertility challenges every year. About 10 percent of all married couples in America struggle with the issue of being childless, a situation that causes emotional as well as relational problems. Infertility is defined by doctors as a condition when a couple fails to attain pregnancy after one year of regular and unprotected intercourse. Under ideal circumstances, the probability that a woman will get pregnant during a single menstrual cycle is only about 30%. In most cases, infertility is caused by a combination of factors that prevent conception from occurring. Based on recent studies, infertility affects one in 25 American men. Infertility cases in men are due to low sperm count or poor sperm quality. In most industrialized countries like the U.S, sperms counts have been in decline supposedly due to the increased work load and hectic lifestyle of the male population.
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There mere fact that the term, “comfort food” exists is proof enough that eating certain foods is good for relieving stress. Whether it is some sort of psychopharmacological thing, something connected to mental health and memories, or an evolutionary instinct, the fact is that eating is effective stress relief. However, when one considers all the stress and anxiety that gets tossed around in modern society, it isn’t surprising to learn that the weight loss pill market is on a steady increase. Indeed, as people are put under more and more stress, with less and less time to find stress relief for it, food becomes an increasingly tempting option. Sure, stress and anxiety are not the only factors behind the increasing number of people with obesity, but it does have to take some of the flak. People look to food as a cost-effective means of stress relief, mainly because a number of modern environments simply don’t allow for a significant amount of time to relax. For example, in those high-stress corporate environments, people tend to have very little time to spare between getting to work, actually working, and their duties outside of work. To avoid allowing the stress to build and become a danger to them or the people around them, they do the one stress relief activity that they can do. A little candy bar here or some potato chips there can be enough to get a person’s mind through the stress and anxiety of a typical work day. However, when one develops a dependence on these things to relieve stress, then there is going to be an eventual need for a weight loss pill or diet plan. It isn’t just the corporate workplace and the employees within it that end up eating a little too much “comfort food,” however. As stated in a number of books, such as “Perfect Madness: Motherhood in the Age of Anxiety,” shows, mothers also have to deal with the problem. Between the stress of having to keep a handle on active children and the duties that mothers have to perform, there is plenty of room for the average mother to binge a little. This can be especially true in suburban environments, where there is often a subtle competition between housewives that puts a lot of undue stress and anxiety on mother and child alike. Children can also sometimes fall victim to over-eating “comfort foods.” With so much pressure on children to succeed on all possible levels, there’s plenty of stress and anxiety to go around. The problem lies in the fact that children nowadays are subjected by their parents to all manner of time-consuming extra-curricular activities, with even the slightest potential becoming something that could be “developed.” Parents tend to be well-meaning in cutting down on the playing time of their children, as all of these activities are designed to help them succeed. However, there comes a time when children will need to be given time to be children. Stress and anxiety are things that the mental health of a child is not fully capable of handling, such that any form of stress relief can be seen as acceptable. For most, succumbing to peer pressure or playing video games can do the trick, but a few others end up turning into binge eaters. Over-eating due to stress and anxiety is not an all-encompassing problem yet, but statistics show that it is getting there. As competition in the workplace, stress in the home, and the pressure to succeed compounds with each generation, more and more people are going to need effective, quick stress relief. Pressed for time to find ample ways to relax, food can often be the only viable option available to them.
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We live in a stressful world. No matter how hard we try to circumvent stress and anxiety, our rendezvous with them is as sure as death and taxes. Encountering distress is an undeniable reality. Understanding that stress and anxiety are always present in one’s life should be accepted…but that does not necessarily make it easier. For example, have you ever been picked on by a boss? Who can ever forget that ill-fated day that you became the “official office target” of the boss? Have you ever been accused with a blunder that you never committed. Not contented with what he did, the boss startled you with words that you have never even heard of before. To top it all, he did it in front of the whole work unit. Left with no choice but to keep your mouth shut, you just allowed your boss to unreasonably splatter his saliva all over your face. Still, you manage to fake a “cherry grin.” These kinds of situations is just a normal office scenario but tends induce stress and anxiety. Stress first was attributed to external pressures like workloads, competition and other stimuli that could induce a distress one’s body. Recently, however, stress was described not only as external stimuli but it may very well be the reaction of a person to another individual’s negative perception, capacities and understanding. Meanwhile anxiety is described as an overwhelming fear, worry, or apprehension. These intensified feelings are always accompanied by bodily manifestations like chronic sweating, uneasiness, heart palpitations, nausea, shortness of breathing, and headaches. Work-related stress and anxiety, and chronic cares of same sorts can affect one’s work performance. Anxiety induced by a past negative encounter with an officemate, worrying on multitudes of paper works labeled “urgent,” and apprehensions to confront a boss can affect indeed office performance. The apparent effect of it to a professional is not only depressing but could also be a one- way ticket to unemployment. No one wants to be fired right away right? And companies don’t give into excuses like, “Sorry sir, I’m just stressed.” So wise up see the practical anxiety treatments. Start with a proper diet. Others might raise their eyebrows with this practical self-help tip but actually it has scientific explanation. Anxiety conditions are the avenues for the usual response of “fight or flight.” This is a condition where people who are confronted with anxiety challenge or flee from anxiety. With a healthier diet, the body becomes more stable, and eventually, event the anxiety reactions are lessened. Have a proper attitude. Don’t put unnecessary stresses to your life by going through unnecessary notions. Yes, your boss may have shouted a couple of times but harboring resentment would do no good either. Focus your strength and energy where you really need it most – on the work. Anxiety would be gradually obliterated by taming one’s mind. Instead of using your energy to backstab a tyrant boss or get even with a co-worker with hideous attitude, learn to channel those energies to a more worthy cause. Proper attitude is an excellent anxiety treatment. Life’s full of stress and we can’t afford to add insult to the injury. Greater stress would entail greater risk for anxiety.
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Corporate life can take a serious toll on the mind, particularly if you happen to be the one caught amidst the company’s hustle and bustle. There are a thousand things that need to be done any given shift, and you’d need at least a shift just to get one of those tasks to be done properly. There are also the occasional added duties of the typical employee, such as the meeting with the boss, rant sessions with fellow employees, and the pressures and responsibilities that the typical worker adds to his already overwhelming set of problems. The need for stress relief is most commonly seen among people who are doing the dry grunt-work of a company, the ones working the trenches at the front lines of the “corporate war.” Of course, a company employee may not necessarily be fighting a “war” against the company’s enemies, or business rivals, as the case may be. For anyone who has ever read the novel “Catch-22,” the rather daunting concept of a soldier fighting the rigid bureaucracy of his own army is a humorous, unpleasant yet all too realistic storyline. Unfortunately, for some corporate employees, the Catch-22 is an everyday ordeal. They find themselves willing to fight even their own corporate bosses. Even worse is when there is no convenient or regular source of stress relief, which tends to wear down a person’s mind and makes the situation much worse. Once a person thinks the situation is getting worse, it inevitably really does become worse, through some dismiss it as a mere quirk of fate. Yes, this sounds terribly pessimistic, but there are several people who go to their jobs day after day — resigned to go through the daily drudgery. The fact is, there are always a few disgruntled, disenfranchised, and disillusioned employees who will look at the corporate power structure and only see the Catch-22 bureaucracy. They literally see policies leading them around in circles, with stress relief being just a pipe dream — with each step leading to the path of madness. Of course, madness is not included as a job skill requirement although in some lines of work that involve creativity, being somewhat “looney” is an unwritten prerequisite. Dealing with a Catch-22 bureaucracy can be taxing on your mental health, whether you’re fighting it or you’re trying to work with it. There is ample anecdotal evidence to show that attempting to work within a bureaucracy that keeps on going around in circles can drive employees to develop frequent bouts of nausea. Besides the nausea, chronic fatigue also seems to be a growing problem among employees that attempt to survive in a Catch-22 environment. Mental fatigue is also a problem, as some people tend to spend hours upon hours trying to figure out how to get out of the mess that the company’s policies have gotten them into, all the while realizing that any attempt to get out is likely just going to get them deeper into the problem. Naturally, from a realistic point of view, the above situation is hardly feasible, but if work-related stress and anxiety are not dealt with in a timely and effective manner, it can lead to some unpleasant situations. For the most part, the common reaction when the situations get extreme is to simply try and find a way to escape, or at least get into a position where the bureaucracy is less constrained. In a corporate environment, the former is little more than just removing yourself from the company’s employ, and the latter means working within the constraints to get into a position of power. Of course, working twice as hard just to get away from the bureaucracy means the company will be getting more work out of an employee, but not have to pay more. Why does that sound like exactly what your typical corporate slave driver actually wants? If it does start sounding that way, then it is a safe assumption that your stress and anxiety at work has gone past being an anxiety disorder and developed into a full-blown paranoia. Next thing you know, you’ll start thinking they’re all out to get rid of you.