Take the Stress Out of Money

If you're stressing about the poor economy, you may be hurting more than your bank account. Use these tips to take the stress out of finances and protect your heart at the same time.

By Martha Miller Johnson

The constant bad news about the economy is creating stress in people’s lives that one mental health expert says she has never seen before. “I have been in practice for more than 20 years, and I have never experienced clients with this much stress around the economy,” says Nancy Molitor, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in the Chicago area. “People feel a real lack of control. They feel helpless and powerless.”

But take heart: You may have no power over the financial markets, but a few basic strategies can help you respond to economic stress in ways that protect, rather than jeopardize, your heart health.