Is The Ecomomy Stressing You Out?

[Grama-Herc]

She

I hate to hear about your job loss. This economy is going to hell in a hand basket.

For the 1st time in my life being Agoraphobic has it's advantages. I don't use much gas anyway, so cutting back on my driving is actually a plus for me. I now have a legit reason to stay home. hehehehehehehehe

 

[judyandsus]

Yes what a stress point it is:mad: I am on disability and a state org. recieves my check each month. They pay my bills so I can't say so much about that part but I am given $30.00 a week to live on. That won't put gas in the car and buy food for me and dog food for my mini dachshund. She is the reason I'm still living so she comes first no matter what. I don't know how the goverment thinks we can all live. I know they don't care really but with out us there will be no them:stupid:

 

[hodge]

Oh yeah, it's stressing me out. Since someone else already brought up how to vote this year, just had to mention that I always vote Democrat no matter the person, because their policies generally help the poorest and working class, or at least don't make things worse for us. I hate to say it, but U.S. history over the past century bears this out: Republicans, especially this current regime, tend to look out only for their rich friends. Okay, off my political soapbox now:)

I agree with Lisa that it's important to try not to worry too much, because it exacerbates PTSD symptoms. We're trying to make some proactive changes. For example, since we are lucky to live in a small town, we can walk to do most of our errands, and we do. I also planted a large vegetable garden this year. I started almost everything by seed and thus spent only about $15 on that. I planted vegetables we like that can be frozen, so at least I hope we'll save on frozen vegetables this year. But the heating costs, gas to get to my appointments 30 miles away, the fact that I can't work and don't even have disability (though I've applied) and my husband doesn't make much at all - yeah, it's very stressful.

 

[wildfirewildone]

Economic Stress

:hello:With the Republican Party in the White House our USA economy is really in an atrocious state! More and more money is being taken away from the people who need it the most! Our Ohio State Medicaid ["poor peoples' insurance"] keeps dropping services like replacement glasses if one breaks them...And they no longer pay to put scratch coat on out new glasses and if they get scratched up since you can't get the replacements anymore, you're SCREWED royally!!! Instead of Dental exams twice a year it's only once and they no longer pay for root canals so if you get a bad cavity you have to have it pulled. Being diabetic can worsen if you get teeth problems because you only get the exam once a year. I have pretty much always voted Democratic but once Bush started and kept going the Iraq war, I will NEVER vote anything else!! I'm contemplating becoming a volunteer in the Obama camp. He just has to win!! I've been having problems paying for food let alone gas. Fortunately there is a hot meals program next door at the Episcopal church. It's a Monday thru Friday offering of supper, NO QUESTIONS ASKED. Unfortunately if it's raining I can't go as I have to wait outside for someone to bring the handicapped elevator down so I can get to the second floor where the meals are served. Also when it gets above 75 degrees I can't go either as they have no air conditioning up there and I get absolutely nauseous trying to eat in that heat. Plus I have asthma and an attack could be set off. I am also fortunate that I'm now living in a very small college town with little traffic and no matter where one goes in town, it takes 5 minutes or less. Where I used to live 2 years ago was a big busy traffic area and I burned up a lot of gas waiting at lights and in long lines just to get across town or out to the mall. My son and his wife are pressuring me to ask my GREAT psychodoc if he can recommend a doc that is somewhat closer.They are concerned about the gas I use to get to his office in a town 1 hour and 10 minutes drive time away from where I live. After our last conversation this past weekend, when I got home I had the thought that if they're soooo concerned about the money, why won't they supply me the gas money to get there? They irrationally expect me to give up the best psychodoc I've ever found and have worked with for 5 years. I see my psychodoc this Saturday and I will talk to him about their request as I promised them I would do at least that. It was the only way to get them to shut up! I AM NOT GOING TO CHANGE docs as long as I have the ability to eat less and have the money to put in my tank! Talk about STRESS!! YIPES!! .....KEEP THE TREES AND BREATHE

 

[FlameTachiku]

I was blue today.

I know that my parents and many that I care for in the older generation are suffering because the the economy.

I could not figure out why I was blue today.

Then I remember this thread from a few months back.

The economy is stressing me, and stess is no good.

How are you all doing with this?

The USA sucks right now, what about elsewhere?

What are we doing or wishing we were able to do, what to do?

 

[TLight]

I guess just one day at a time guys. Financial stress has always gotten me. I refuse to let it get me this time.
We are all survivors by nature.........we will certainly survive this.

Yup........Republicans generally piss me off.

 

[midi]

The cock roach is one of my totems, so I'll survive--whether that's good or bad, who knows. I think it's a blessing in disguise that I can't drive because of PTSD--no gas worries, although, it does take an hour and a half one way to walk to the U when I go. The world economy is in tatters. It's too bad we all live in these isolated apartments and houses, if we could learn how to cope with living with others, we could cut down drastically on our bills.

 

[jeapea]

What if the sky fell?
What if... things were the way they were just 50 or 75 years ago? My grandmother taught me a lot. And I've always loved learning the 'old ways' of doing things as a result. I hunt, fish, butcher my own food. Grow and gather a lot. Dry, can, freeze and smoke my foods. And the savings is incredible. And if I have to, I'll eat one of my llamas! LOL I hear they make good sausage.... not that I need it this year after growing pigs... What I mean to say is...
What if we took more responsibility for our own care and stopped depending on others to provide for our 'conveniences'? It's something to think about...
And if we all just turned off what's "outside" and lived within our families, and friends and by our means like people used to do... would so many of us be on this forum? Seems to me this world has changed so much not for the better at all... life isn't simple any more. And it doesn't have to be so complicated or hard or expensive to be a good thing.
Recognizing that every day is my therapy. It keeps me grounded. And prevents wishing for or wanting more or worrying.
I have a small business and it may, or may not, pay the bills. So? I have a tent. What is the worst possible scenario? Camping out? Well, if it's fun because its a choice, why can't it be fun regardless?
My new truck went back wherever it came from. I don't miss it. I don't miss the stress the payments caused me. I still have another truck. I still have a jeep. And I have my horses if I lose my vehicles! I'm still not afoot! And if I am? Walking is good for me!
All this stress about bills and economy gets so big and worrisome, but I'm still not sure what the real difference is. If I lived in the city (where I grew up), I would leave. Well.. I already did that. no one stopped me. I sold things to get here. I gave things away. I went forth.
If there was no more oil.. and some day there won't be any left... so what? If there was no more, food? I can find food. What can the 'economy' take from me that I can't live without?
Maybe I'm being narrowminded, here... but if we lived within our means and by our communities we would still be ok after all.... we could live off what we've thrown out for decades......

 

[trial'n'error]

The state of "The Economy" never seems to match up with what my life is like, for some reason. For example, during the 90s, when everyone and his brother was getting rich from the stock market, I was broke and working minimum wage jobs. Then when the 2000s hit and everyone started losing their ass from the .com bubble burst, I'd just gotten a social work degree and suddenly began earning about three times as much as ever before. Also, since I was a single mom raising a kid with multi medical needs for 13 years, I got used to not having a shred of discretionary cash. My hobbies are drawing, reading, knitting, and conversation. So, no. Thank goodness... cause I stress out about almost every other imaginable thing.

 

[Jet]

Does the economy stress me out? Hmmm.....yup, it does.

The thing is I grew up poor and have been relatively low income most of my life. Until recently it never really bothered me all that much.

The last few months though, have really taken their toll. We have had to pay out a small fortune in vet bills (4 animals all needed medical care within a few weeks of each other), emergency oral surgery, car repairs and a bunch of other stuff that we could not put off.

Although we have credit cards they rarely got used. But now that dept has gone from around 5000 to about 11,000. Seemed like every time we turned around there was some kind of emergency going on and for at least part of them we did not have the extra cash and had to use the dreaded cards.

Our plan has been to move out of the city (I have lived in or near Seattle most of my life) and lead a simpler lifestyle. People think I am strange but I dream of having a garden, some chickens, a pig or two, and maybe even a dairy cow. However with the economy the way it is we will have a he** of a time trying to get a loan for property (even with Brent being eligible for a VA loan). And now we have to pay off the added credit card dept first...GRRR.....

I am fairly certain that we will make it through this but it still makes me want to beat my head against a wall.

 

[Salu]

Yes, it scares me. Prices are up and I actually feel guilty for buying things, necessary things, food. We use a lot more of our own grown food again. Most vegetables, a lot of the meat comes from someone we know etc.