| In his recessionary period, financial conditions can | | | | job stability (56%). Two years after this study, the |
| become a source of stress and can complicate both | | | | situation has worsened. Government programs have |
| personal and family life significantly. Although stress is | | | | not been the solution. The stimulus package has |
| a commonly used term, a useful definition of stress | | | | resulted in a net loss of jobs instead of providing the |
| for this article is that it is an uncomfortable | | | | environment for job creation; the foreclosure |
| experience especially when it is overwhelmingly based | | | | prevention program, the bailout of the banks, and |
| on personal events and circumstances. This | | | | the cash for clunker program which moved buying |
| experience is not lost on the independent consultant. | | | | choices up, have essentially borrowed from our |
| Worry over job loss, mounting bills, and family | | | | future and piled debt on our children and |
| responsibilities can take its toll on one's personal | | | | grandchildren. |
| well-being. In that the number one thing that couples | | | | In this environment, you as an independent |
| argue about, even in good economic times, is money, | | | | consultant must survive and grow. And beyond that, |
| financial stress can take its toll on marriage and other | | | | be the expert that your stressed out clients look to |
| committed relationships. Psychosomatic illnesses can | | | | for help. You have to manage stress in your life by |
| result including insomnia, high blood pressure, | | | | learning all you can about what causes stress in your |
| migraines, stomach disorders, loss of appetite, a | | | | life, and what works for you in dealing with it. And, |
| reduced desire to engage in fun activities, and | | | | then you must make stress work for you rather |
| irritableness. Even anxiety, depression, and panic | | | | than against you. A wider view of stress is that the |
| cannot be ruled out. Other family members will begin | | | | uncomfortable experience, correctly identified, should |
| to wonder about the changes in your behavior and | | | | be welcomed and accepted. Use stress to invigorate |
| the deterioration in the relationship. | | | | your creativity and resourcefulness -- to wake up the |
| A recent American psychological Association survey | | | | creativity inside you thus allowing you to invent ways |
| conducted in 2008 found that eight in ten people | | | | to circumvent or overcome challenging events and |
| identified money (81%) and the economy (80%) as | | | | circumstances and to help you in your work with |
| a significant source of stress in their lives. Other | | | | your clients. |
| sources of stress include housing costs (62%), and | | | | |