Looking For Ways to Deal with Economic Stress?

You see it on faces everywhere.

You may see it in the mirror.

The face of stress.

Because of the economic crisis and the uncertainty of when things will get better, you may be feeling an unparalleled degree of stress in your life. You worry that friends and loved ones could lose their jobs. You worry the list of layoffs could eventually catch up with you.

I must admit it's on my mind. A number of friends have lost their jobs. Those of us employed by News Channel 7 are taking 10-day furloughs. My wife, a Spartanburg County employee, is taking nine days' furlough.

Stress is real, and dealing with it is a necessity.

There are lots of articles about things you can do to deal with stress.

Jed Diamond, PhD., has an article on www.thirdage.com titled "Is The Economy Making You Sick?" You might give it a read, and be sure to have a look at the stress-reducers he uses (the following is taken from his article):

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1. Walk in nature: There is something healing about getting outside in nature. Whatever the problems of our "civilized" way of life, getting in touch with the natural world can be very healing. Walking alone can give us a chance to meditate and relax. Walking with others gives us a sense of camaraderie and connection.

2. Practice relaxation: Daily practice of a relaxation technique-such as breath work, meditation, or yoga-can reduce anxious thoughts. The key is to do something daily. Stress builds up every day and we need to release it every day.

3. Take care of your body: A good diet, regular activity, and adequate sleep can help your mood. Sleep is very important and it often becomes disrupted when we are worried and scared. I've found that doing some stretching exercises before I go to bed helps relax me and takes out the kinks of the day.

4. Offer simple acts of kindness: Doing something nice for someone else helps keep our thoughts positive. We may not be able to influence the Stock Market or keep the prices of food and fuel from going up, but we can always do something nice for someone else. Even a kind note or a word of appreciation can make someone else feel cared for. And caring for someone else is one of the best ways to care for yourself.

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This week I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Frank Page, pastor of Taylors First Baptist Church and immediate past president of the 16-million member Southern Baptist Convention. We were together to talk about his appointment to a panel that will advise President Barack Obama on faith-based and neighborhood issues.

But in the course of the conversation, I also asked Dr. Page how the economic downturn has affected churches.

His answer was simple: contributions are down, but attendance is up. He believes the economic problems have caused many people to reevaluate what is important in their lives.

Health gurus say plenty about exercises, foods, music and other solutions to stress.

Let's not forget faith and prayer.