A study released yesterday by the American Psychological Association found that while men and women both are feeling stress about the nation's economic downturn, it may be women who are most likely to rank it as the No. 1 stress in their lives right now.
"Women of the Boomer generation (aged 44 to 62) and Matures (aged 63+) are most likely to report the economy as a significant stressor, while women in general rank financial worries above personal health. Female Boomers report increases in stress associated with their job stability and health problems affecting their families. Mature women are reporting dramatic increases in stress associated with health problems affecting their families (up 17 points to 87 percent between April and September), the economy (up 18 points to 92 percent) and money (up 15 points to 77 percent)," according to the study.
Some symptoms of such stress include anxiety, headaches and migraine headaches, insomnia, back and neck pain, and less ability for the immune systems to fight off the cold or flu.
What can you do?
First, get a plan. Part of the worry comes from not knowing what's around the next corner. And then, once you've planned for what you can, do some things to alleviate your stress. An article in U.S. News & World Report about health, women and money related stress has some suggestions:
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/on-women/2008/10/08/managing-your-money-rela...
What are you doing right now in these worrisome times? Do you have ideas others can use for getting through financial anxiety?