By now, all of us have been substantially affected by the state of our economy in one way or another. Some much harder than others, either by job loss, job insecurity, home forclosure, bad debt, loss in the stock market, or your 401K. We have been forced to hold back on many of the luxuries that we once took for granted.
To help cope wtih the stress and anxiety brought on by a personal job loss, fear of losing your job or due to a spouse or family member,'s job loss, there are a few easy steps that you can take to help minimize the potential hazzards that stress and anxiety can cause during these extremely difficult times.

1.If you are unemployed, think about volunteering to keep yourself busy and your mind occupied. If possible try and find a position that is within your field. This is a wonderful way to keep your resume active and keep up your work experience that you can use while looking for a new position.

2. Think positively. Negative thoughts, excessive worry and catastrophizing your situation will literally stimulate your brain to feel depressed and anxioius.

3. Do NOT avoid or escape your emotions through distraction or other means. Take time out of your day to reflect on your feelings, by journaling and understanding exactly what your feelings are. Accept them for what they may be without labeling them as "bad" "terrible" or "unacceptable".

4. Reach out to your support systems, whether they be family, friends, co-workers, religious leaders or a professional counselor. Do not isolate and try and get through your difficulties alone. Keep relationships strong.

5.. Take up a hobby if you do not already have one. Find a meaningful activilty that will give you peace of mind and pride in what you do. If you have hobbies, don't loose sight of them and keep them meaningful.

6. Read. Take a trip to the library and seek out fun and stimulating books or journals. Reading helps to keep the mind active and alive.

7. Exercise, exercise and excersie. If you do not already have a routine, you can make it simple by taking brisk walks in the morning, biking or swimming if you have access to a swimming pool. Keep your mind and body alive.

8. Don't give up on networking. Talk to other professionals or those in your field. As time goes by you never know who or what may surface that will provide you a new opportunity. It is easy to get bogged down in the negativity of the media.

9. Keep fresh flowers in your home. Sweet smells are a good simulant that can make you feel good.

10. Listen to classical music. Or your favorite oldies. Remember how you feel when you hear an old song that brings back happy memories of childhood or as a teenager?

11. Get plenty of sleep and nutrition.

12. Stay organized as much as possible.

13. Stay in tune to your daily rituals that you have relied on for a long time to keep you focused.