Stressed by financial troubles? Discover 8 ways to cope
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(ARA) - Rising credit card debt and job losses have millions of Americans questioning their financial security. Though the economy is slowly showing signs of recovery, the mixed daily news is still causing a lot of people to feel stressed.
Nearly three out of four Americans say that money is at the top of their list of stressors, according to the American Psychological Association. "Anxiety can show up in every area of your life," says David Whitehouse, M.D., a chief medical officer for OptumHealth, which operates myOptumHealth.com. "You may notice a change in sleep habits or appetite, or may feel depressed and withdrawn. No matter what is causing your stress, there are healthy ways to cope."
The experts at myOptumHealth.com -- a free consumer health information Web site -- offer some tips on how to identify your stressors along with tools and information to help deal with them. "The content on myOptumHealth.com is medically reviewed and vetted by clinicians and follows leading evidence-based medicine guidelines," says Whitehouse.
1. Don't hide from the situation. If financial matters are causing you worry, don't ignore the problem. Letting your bills pile up because you can't handle looking at them is a sure-fire recipe for disaster. Face the problem head-on so you can make positive changes.
2. Pinpoint the sources of stress in your life. If you expect to deal with your stress in a positive way, you'll need to know what's causing it.
3. Identify and change harmful behaviors. If you sneak a cigarette or a drink, or raid the refrigerator when you're stressed out, swap these activities for healthier ones like hobbies or exercise.
4. Create a plan of action. Once you've identified the sources of your anxiety and have committed to positively addressing them, write down your plan of action or a list of dos and don'ts. For example, if bad news about the economy raises your blood pressure, turn off the television or radio and play some of your favorite music instead.
5. Talk to someone. Whether it's reconnecting with your friends or making an appointment with a professional, having a conversation can go a long way in alleviating your worries. You can find a nearby health care provider that's right for you using myOptumHealth.com's "Find a Doctor" feature.
6. Learn to say no. Sometimes stress is caused by simply having too much to do. Give yourself permission to say no. If it helps, schedule time for yourself and make it a date you don't break. Use your time to do things that give you pleasure or help you feel more peaceful.
7. Get exercise. Physical activity is a great stress-buster and it's good for your heart -- where stress can cause damage. But check with your doctor before you increase your activity level.
8. Control what you can. If you're a perfectionist and expect the same from others, relaxing your standards can help ease stress. It's also important to realize that some things are beyond your control. If you can't change something, it's time to stop worrying about it.
"If you're struggling with debt or financial trouble, if economic news raises your blood pressure or if your busy life is causing you anxiety and worry, it's better to do something about it sooner rather than later," says Whitehouse. "Once you start to deal with your stressors, you'll realize how many priceless moments you missed out on while worrying."
For more information on how to control stress, visit myOptumHealth.com. The health and wellness site has a number of content-specific sections and "Health Hubs" that provide topical and easily searchable articles. As well, the site has as a number of online tools and calculators, such as a symptom checker, to help manage your health and organize your medical information.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
