Anxiety about the Economy

You have turned to the 3rd post in a series about managing anxiety.  Anxiety affects all of us, really.  It couldn’t be more common.  It’s also complex.  We are aiming for it to become a more balanced and helpful part of our lives instead of taking over.

So far, you’ve read about how anxiety is an important signal that we don’t want to turn off until we’ve understood what the warning is about.  This is great when our anxiety is an alarm about something we can control.

In part 2, we discussed how anxiety needs to stay in balance with our values and other parts of ourselves so that it doesn’t take over.  This can be helpful when anxiety is an alarm about something long-term.

Now we come to another dimension of anxiety.  Sometimes we have anxiety because there is something that we can’t control.  Here are a few ideas that might bring your anxiety down a notch.  Remember, we aren’t aiming to get rid of anxiety.  We just don’t want it to take over.

First, focus on what you can do.  Is it possible for you to cut your spending a little bit?  Do that.  Have you always wanted to make your own Christmas presents or grow your own vegetables?  Do what you can, within reason.  Aim for balance.  Here, we are balancing what we can’t control with the things that we can control.

Make some plans.  Count your chickens.  If the economy gets worse, just how financially prepared are you?  You might find that you are in a slightly better position that you thought you were.  Are you allowed to skip a mortgage payment?  Are you allowed to move some investments?  Visit your bank and find out your options.  Facts tend to be a little less scary than our fears.

Also, make some fun plans!  If this bad thing happens, I am going to do these things that will help me get through it.  If I lose my job, I’m going to do yoga daily for my mental and physical health.  I’m going to take the time to bake my own bread.  I’m going to borrow my brother’s guitar that he never uses and learn to play.

In all honesty, we when have a financial crisis, we lose our motivation to do anything new.  It’s hard to get excited about something that isn’t already part of our daily routine.  Our energy just isn’t there.  However, if we have planned it in advance, it is far more likely to happen.

Notice that you’ve gotten through hard times before.  In fact, even though difficult times in your past may have had effects that even linger to today, you have gotten through them.  We really don’t like to admit that we will face difficulties.  We know that we will face them.  Yet, many of us are certain that if we smart enough, strong enough, and able to predict the future, we should be able to avoid all trouble in life.  It’s not a moral failure when something bad happens to us.  Instead, it’s just life.  If this is where you get stuck, let’s work on it together.

“The bird on the branch is not afraid of the branch breaking, because her trust is not in the branch.  Her trust is in her wings.” –Anonymous.  You might find it easier to trust yourself than some massive, uncontrollable beast like the economy.  If not, we can work on helping you feel steadier.

Here’s the truth.  When your anxiety is big, it’s really hard to get it back down to a balanced size on your own.  We really aren’t meant to go through life alone.  We are meant to be surrounded by other people and by rhythms of life that keep us steady and balanced.  If your anxiety is driving your life, then it’s time to reach out.  We can help.