6 Secrets to Dealing with Today's Economic Stress

The Markets have gone MAD. Money Anxiety Disorder: That's what some are calling the latest American epidemic. While the market plunges, free-floating anxiety is rising. According to a survey in October by the American Psychological Association, 80 percent of us find the recent financial crisis a significant cause of stress—up from 66 percent last April—and women are bearing the brunt of the worry. Women are reporting greater concern over job stability, health problems, and financial concerns affecting their families. Many people have been careful about their finances. They have seen money as a safety net. Now that safety net appears to be unraveling right before their eyes.

While financial experts tell us not to panic, it is hard not to, when the reality is, people are afraid. Fear and stress take a serious toll on health, putting people at higher risk for a host of ailments from high blood pressure to heart disease. Most people know that research has shown that exercise and meditation are two of the most effective ways to reduce stress—but many feel too pressured to try either. So I asked a few experts for other strategies you might not have considered.

1. Sooth yourself. To lower financial stress, set a budget for each day and reward yourself with something soothing for staying on it. Alvin Hall, a financial commentator on BBC TV and radio and author of You and Your Money: Mastering the Emotions Behind the Numbers says, "Ask yourself: 'What is the one thing I can do that will give me the longest-lasting uplift for the least amount of money?'" During the economic downturn of 1987, Hall's treat was blackberry pie. "I'd think about it all day, and if I came in under my budget," he says, "I'd go order a slice. When I couldn't afford that, I'd visit the museum and look at Van Gogh paintings." What might feel soothing to you? A long bath, a walk, listening to music. Find ways to comfort and sooth yourself.

2. Nurture one another. Women, we are basic nurturers at our core. This is a time when we need to give one another manicures or pedicures. Or consider exchanging massages with your partner and friends. According to Robert Sapolsky, PhD, professor of neurology and neurological sciences at Stanford University, who has studied wild baboons for 30 years, primates groom each other to reduce stress—and the effect seems to be more powerful for the one who is doing the primping. Think about it. Instead of giving up services like this, that are so nurturing, give them as loving gifts to one another. What a lovely way to intimately contribute to the life of another. Touch is very bonding. When times are tough we need to bond more than ever.

3. Take up knitting. According to research at the Harvard-affiliated Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, the repetitive motion and focus of needlework can elicit what's known as the relaxation response—a calming meditation-like state that slows heart rate and causes blood pressure to drop. In addition, a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society suggests that knitting is associated with a lower risk of dementia for those 65 and older.

4. Visit the GOD CAN. Yes, there is a GOD CAN. The Heart Link Network, an international women's networking organization, and its online community for women called The Heart Alliance, have created a stress management gift for women everywhere. It costs nothing and is a comforting a lovely experience. You just go to the GOD CAN, write down any anxieties, concerns, or fears and press "I am done with this" and the note folds up and floats up and the lid of The GOD CAN opens for the note and then closes. Dawn L. Billings, the creator of the GOD CAN, was a family counselor for over 15 years and author of over 15 books. "What I found with my patients is that if you could give them a tangible way to release the stress in their lives, they felt real relief. I used to use balloons filled with helium, but now the GOD CAN works even better and it is as easy a click of a button on your computer. We are thrilled to offer than and many other services for women on our "no cost" online women's networking community."

5. Recreate community. Recreate deep and meaningful relationships in your life. Don't live isolated. During the Great Depression, historian David M. Kennedy, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929–1945, father experienced "what they called a nervous breakdown." Nervous breakdowns are about anxiety and stress reaching astronomical levels. During this very frightening time, we must force ourselves to connect more. It is the strong, healthy relational bonds in our lives that keep us sane. The broader our community of people we trust is, the stronger and more fortified we feel. This is a time to reach out and link arms and hearts with those around you.

6. Give more. It is true that giving is better than receiving. It not only makes a difference to the person receiving the gift, but it makes an enormous difference in the life of the person giving the gift. Find people you can help in small ways. Dawn Billings, CEO and Founder of The Heart Link Network and Link to Success Business Networking says, "We must be committed to sharing more random acts of kindness. It might not plug all the holes in the dam that we feel might be crumbling in front of us, but kindness always makes the water warmer."

Dawn L. Billings was selected by Oprah Magazine and The White House Project as one of the nation's 80 emerging women leaders for her socially dynamic programs created to benefit the lives of women and children. Dawn was also chosen by the YWCA in GA as one of 15 "Women of Achievement" in 2008.

Is there Hope for Success in this economy?

Have you ever asked yourself "Is there hope for success in this economy?" I certainly have. As I watch the faces of women I love tighten with stress as they wonder will they and their husbands keep their jobs, it seems that hope is being squeezed like orange juice, it just doesn't end up tasting sweet. Billions of dollars, nearing a trilion in fact, are being poured into the economy but who is getting the money and the relief? Do you know any one personally that is benefiting that is hurting?

It seems that in these difficult times we will need one another to support, encourage, and share with. What can we do to enhance our success? Well I have a couple of thoughts to share.

1. Find people that you can help. For those of us who have clothes, dishes, extras of any kind, let's find people who need them and create our own small form of personal relief.

2. Find ways to recreate community. We have become isolated from one another and now it is time to recreate that community unity once again. Get to know your neighbors, offer to watch their backs, let's get back to borrowing eggs and taking one another cookies and brownies.

3. Network, network, network. We must expand our circles of influence and increase our social capital. It is much easier to get things done if you know people who have similar desires that want to unite to help you. Whether it is networking at the Chamber of Commerce, BNI, the new women's networking organization The Heart Link Network, face to face women's networking or social networking like Facebook, Linkedin or The Heart Alliance or Link to Success Business Networking, these groups can be expand our friends, our resources, our minds and especially our hearts.

4. Take time to be thoughtful and kind. This is a time for random acts of kindness. Share food with your neighbors. Send more cards. Send Out Cards is a wonderful and easy way to send thoughtful cards. Volunteer to do something worthwhile and hour or two a week, or month. Or do something as easy as visiting the lovely Heart-Notes Garden created by The Heart Link Network as a gift to the world. It is a "no cost", wonderful way to send a thoughtful note by planting a flower of appreciation, remembrance, thoughtfulness, or kindness in an Internet garden of love.

5. Spread inspiration. We must be harvesters of hope. Feed hope. Spread hope. Give hope. It is in this gift that we will truly find the HOPE for success in this economy.


Dawn Billings, CEO and Founder of TheHeartLinkNetwork, TheHeartAlliance, LinktoSuccess Business Networking. Dawn is the author of 15 books on parenting, relationships and entitlement. Dawn is the creator of the new parenting toy/tool called Capables. Dawn was selected as one of the nation's emerging women leaders by Oprah Magazine and The White House Project, and selected as one of 15 Women of Achievement by the YWCA in Georgia