Stress Management and Relaxation Techniques

Archive for August, 2009

Today’s economic conditions call for some financial stress relief.  The current state of the economy is due to excesses of lifestyle and government spending out of control.  We need to get back to fiscal conservatism both personally and governmentally.  By not living on the edge financially, we could avoid much of today’s fiscal woes and stresses.  Personal and government responsibility must be acknowledged if we are to overcome the irresponsible mess we have created.

Personally we should all be debt free except for a mortgage.  We should have a significant reserve fund to weather unexpected expenses and job layoffs – nothing is guaranteed.  Taking the equity out of one’s house is a bad financial move.  Expecting an unending rise in the housing market is just plain ignorant.  Credit card debt and excesses not paid for in cash are all ingredients to a financial meltdown.  We must take responsibility and make positive inroads to owning up to and paying off our debts.

What we can do:

* Stop buying on credit – pay cash or you can’t afford it
* Stop pulling equity out of our homes for toys and excesses
* Live within a budget, apply the rest to debt and reserve
* You don’t need a new car payment – hang on to car longer
* Don’t try to keep up with the Jones
* Stop buying expensive non-necessities
* $100+ cable – pare down services
* $100+ cell phone service necessary?
* $5 coffee drinks necessary?
* Eat out less, pack a lunch for work
* Beat the recession blues with freelancing jobs

Interest payments will consume your wealth with not much to show for it.  Buckle down and live frugally until you have taken control of your finances, that is the best financial stress relief you can have.  Write down every dollar you spend for a month and you will be amazed how much you are pissing away.  Take the savings from the above list and apply it to your debts.  You will be amazed how fast you can make inroads on paying off your debts.

Social Anxiety Disorder

This type of disorder more commonly strikes when a sufferer is placed within a social setting. It is also referred to as Social Phobia and can be a very traumatic and debilitating disorder making it near impossible for one afflicted with it to be
comfortable at any social gathering. This includes everyday functions such as attending class, going out to dinner at a restaurant, or even going to work. The person suffering from this disorder has strong self-conscious issues and may often
times feel as if they are not welcome, or really a part of the social setting.

They feel as if they are constantly being judged or watched by others for no apparent reason other than those things they themselves feel self-conscious about. The social settings can be those that occur on a daily basis, or those that are rare
occurrences, such as a party, public speaking events, etc. Often times, the sufferer will experience any of the following symptoms when placed in social gatherings: profuse sweating, trembling or shaking, feeling sick to their stomachs, inability to speak, or blushing.

A person suffering from this type of disorder can become so upset by an upcoming social event that it will plague them for weeks in advance working them into an anxious frenzy by the time the event finally comes around. In an attempt to ‘self-medicate’, a person experiencing this disorder will often times turn to alcohol or ‘street’ drugs to cope which leads to more disorders springing up. This disorder usually happens sometime during early childhood or adolescence and continues on throughout adulthood. Treatment for this disorder can be accomplished through careful and consistent counseling and medication.

General Anxiety Disorder

This disorder is a heightened sense of anxiety or worry experienced on a daily basis. It is a chronic disorder that is continuous throughout the sufferers day. They experience difficulty concentrating or constant, excessive worry about every day concerns with an inability to control those overwhelming feelings of worry. Symptoms can also include increased nervousness, irritability, fatigue or restlessness. While not as extreme a condition such as Anxiety/Panic Disorder, it is still a serious illness that requires professional treatment from a qualified health care provider or counselor.