The economy, stress, and health

In October the American Psychological Association (APA) released its Annual Stress in America Survey. Compared to 2007, the 2008 survey found an increase in stress related to money, the economy, job stability, housing costs, and family health problems. Stress-related symptoms also increased: fatigue, feeling irritable or angry, lying awake at night, lack of motivation, feeling depressed or sad, headaches, and muscle tension.

Name your poison: Food, alcohol, tobacco

Almost half of those surveyed reported overeating or eating unhealthy foods in response to stress. Other behaviors that respondents claimed were stress induced: 25 percent cited skipping a meal in the last month, almost 20 percent used alcohol to cope, and 16 percent used smoking.
Katherine Nordal, the APA’s executive director for professional practice, commented:

With the deteriorating economy dominating the headlines, it’s easy to worry more about your finances than your health, but, stress over money and the economy is taking an emotional and physical toll on America, especially among women. … If Americans continue to experience these high levels of stress for prolonged periods of time, they are at risk for developing serious illnesses.

According to Nordal, it’s the stress we feel we have no control over that’s the worst. “It’s almost like a different threat level.” Sort of like going from orange to red.
Rajita Sinha, director of the Yale Stress Center at Yale University School of Medicine, explains the connection between stress and illness. Chronic stress weakens the immune system, interferes with sleep, increases our appetite, raises blood pressure, and justifies unhealthy habits.
In my view, health behavior in response to stress can go in two different directions. Some of us crave our favorite comfort foods (ice cream, potatoes, chocolate) or the vice of our choice. Why bother to be healthy at a time like this? But when risks seem beyond our control, some of us will intensify the pursuit of a “healthy lifestyle.” The ability to exert control over something, in this case our own bodies, is a strategy for reducing anxiety.
The APA’s parting advice on dealing with stress? Seek professional help. Hey, we’ve all got to look out for number one, right?

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