As a mental health professional with many years of experience researching and treating the effects of stress, I believe I have some answers. The first step is to realize that panic doesn't help. Worry and obsessive fear make the situation worse by clouding our minds so we can't think clearly and wearing out our bodies so we don't have as much strength to cope. Instead, stop for a moment, take a deep breath and consider doing some of the following:

(1) Cultivate Body Awareness - Pay attention to when and how you feel stressed. Some typical ways that people experience stress physiologically are in the forms of shallow breathing, racing heart, sweating, or chronic aches and pains. Pay attention to what your body is doing by taking the time to focus mindfully on each separate part, from the bottom of your feet to the top of your head. Try to focus on the flow of your breath in and out of each area. Adopt a compassionate, open attitude towards your bodily experiences without trying to force change. Whatever you feel in the moment is just fine. This type of breathing and mindful attention can, over time, lead to a softening and opening up so you begin to experience your own emotions as less frightening and overwhelming.

(2) Let Go of the Things You Can't Control - There are many aspects of the current economic situation that are completely out of your hands. No matter how hard you try, you are not going to change the mindset of stockbrokers and politicians or those who have vested interests in power plays. For all of the things you worry about, ask yourself: "Is this a situation I can oontrol?" If the answer is "no", it makes sense to let it go and spend your limited energy and resources on things that you can change. You can exert your influence proactively by voting or working towards attitude change in your community. But worrying and obsessing will not help you or anybody else.

(3) Live in the Present Moment - Most people, especially young people, have an idealized vision of the future as bringing ever-greater achievement and happiness. Whatever you have now pales in comparison to what you think you could have if you only worked a little harder or got that just out of reach opportunity. In these times, the future is changeable and uncertain. You may have to live with a period of restricted economic or educational opportunity. Yet there may be a bright side. Some large-scale studies of wellbeing, conducted by the Gallup organization suggest that on average, people feel better about their lives after the age of 50, no matter what.

(4) Refocus Your Priorities - Psychologist Linda Carstensen at Stanford suggests that people may refocus their priorities as they age. Af around age 50, people may begin to accept their lives as they are in the present and turn more to family, friends, and community for happiness, rather than living for the dreams of future wealth & unlimited opportunity. Luckily, you don't have to wait until you're 50 to do this. Take a good look at the people around you, those who have supported you through the difficult times and who love you. Perhaps you have taken some of these relationships for granted or fallen into a rut. You can begin to change this today by allowing yourself to feel and express gratitude, pleasure, and compassion in your relationships. Rather than reaching for happiness which is temporary, reach for fulfillment in the form of deepened connections and caring about other people's wellbeing.

(5) Make Needed Changes With Confidence - The weakness in the economy has led to restricted resources and opportunities for many people. Your initial reaction may be fear of loss, denial, or wishful thinking that everything will suddenly go back to what it was before. However, instead of hanging onto a lifestyle that you can't maintain, it is better to face your situation realistically and be proactive. You may have to sell, move, or lose possesssions, but realize that this is not the end of the world. You are still alive and with every breath comes the opportunity to change, rebuild, and learn from past mistakes. The English writer, Alan Watts was ahead of his time when he argued that the only true psychological security lies in accepting life's constantly changing nature. Anything we have can be taken from us, but, if we trust in our own abilities to evolve, cope and adjust to new challenges, we have nothing to fear. The Buddhists wisely say that attachment is a source of unhappiness and mental suffering. There is no job, possession, or relationship that will guarantee lifelong happiness. Happiness begins and ends in our own minds.

These tough times in the world will challenge us for years to come. Yet they also provide an opportunity to become more resilient, creative, and flexible in dealing with life change. Growing, adapting, and changing takes a lot of internal work, but also bears the potential for great reward in the form of fulfillment, self-confidence, and greater enjoyment of our lives in the moment. 

Melanie Greenberg is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice in Mill Valley, Marin County, CA. She is also a researcher, author, and national speaker with expertise in mind-body health, & managing emotions &stress,.

Visit  my website at: http://melaniegreenbergphd.com/marin-psychologist/

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For more articles, visit my other blog:http://marinpsychologist.blogspot.com

Copyright by Melanie A. Greenberg, PhD, 2011. All rights reserved.

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