In tough times, worry and anxiety can spike to levels that are potentially debilitating and even dangerous, so the federal government has set up a Web site to help people cope with the recession mentally. The situation is severe enough that the site has information on the warning signs of suicide.
But one local psychotherapist says the trick is to believe in yourself enough to practice some tough love on one”™s own psyche.
“Worrying about paying your bills doesn”™t get your bills paid,” said Dan S. Wiko, Ph.D., of Hopewell Junction. He said he recommends that downcast business people take stock of what they can do, as opposed to what they may have lost. “Assess what you are good at, what your capabilities are and how it can be transformed into income.”
With some 30 years in practice, Wiko has seen booms and busts before and believes this one, too, shall pass. But he acknowledges business is not booming and worry is rising. “Pretty much everyone who comes to me is a businessman,” he said. “I am seeing quite a few people who are having financial difficulties who weren”™t in the past.”
He said clients include a formerly busy cosmetic surgeon whose business has diminished drastically and a specialist in high-end car restorations “Two years ago, he was flying high, but today, people are taking their insurance checks and rather than have their fender replaced are using it to buy food,” said Wiko.
The problem of recession depression is a national concern severe enough that the U.S. government”™s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has set up a Web site called “A Guide to Getting Through Tough Economic Times.” The address is samhsa.gov/economy/.
It says “Economic turmoil can result in a whole host of negative health effects, both physical and mental.”
Health risks arising from layoffs, foreclosures and other economic woe include depression, anxiety and compulsive behaviors such as overeating, gambling and substance abuse. The site also gives tips for managing stress and links to hotlines or centers for help with drugs and alcohol abuse or preventing suicide.
While some of the warning signs it cites of impending mental health problems are as obvious as “persistent crying,” “anger and irritability” others are not so obvious such as difficulty staying focused and apathy toward subjects that usually stir one”™s interest.
While acknowledging that economic distress does not directly cause suicide, the site says it can be a factor that contributes to suicidal behavior. It lists warning signs for suicide and says that merely hearing a person talk of suicide should be taken seriously. People should seek help immediately if they or someone they know seems to be at risk. The Web site provides a hot line number to access help immediately.
For managing stress, the site advises people to stay connected to family and friends and to exercise and engage in hobbies and other activities that relieve stress. And much like Dr. Wiko, the site says strategizing on ways to garner income and actions to develop new job skills “provide a practical and highly effective means of coping.” Â
Wiko cites the work of Albert Ellis, an American psychologist and pioneer in cognitive behavior therapies, who in 1955 developed a regimen called Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. He paraphrases Ellis”™ teaching as “The secret of life is that every thing you do is your responsibility. When you accept the fact it is your responsibility, you are free, you see things differently. You say, ”˜I am in charge of what happens to me.”™”
He provided a simple analogy: “People say my feet are killing me, my back is killing me. As long as you have that attitude they are killing you. But if you take the other side of the coin and say, hey my feet hurt what can I do about it, you are motivated to do something about it. The same thing in business, the minute you say this is my responsibility, what am I going to do about it, then you have a more positive approach to the circumstances of your life.
“The best advice I would give to anyone in a business situation who is having difficulty is reassess your own attributes, your own talents and not focus on what the external world is doing,” said Wiko. “Find out what there is about you that can generate income. The ability is there; use it.”
