Denver Stress Relief Get Control of Financial Stress

Christine Chang, Channel 7 Morning News Anchor in Denver, Colorado, interviewed Dr. Thomas R. Giles, our director, about getting control of financial stress. We describe and elaborate upon this feature just below, but as long as the link is active, please feel free to take a look at the article on the Ch 7 Website, http://www.thedenverchannel.com/health/16984182/detail.html.

The subtitle of the article was: Clinical Psychologist Gives Practical, Psychological Tips, and this is the gist of what one must do to address financial stress during hard times; i.e., there are common sense as well "mental wellness" areas to consider.

I. The Practical

Here the emphasis is upon action, what one can do and what one can plan. This includes a wide range of possible activities; e.g., looking for a job or career change; obtaining job retraining or further education; looking for a job recruiter; looking for a different job location, which sometimes can entail moving to another section of the state or country...or in some cases just across town; engaging a support group; involving nonjudgmental friends and family members in brainstorming sessions (getting as many minds involved as possible); updating and posting one's resume; looking for a region with a booming economy; considering the start-up of one's own business; networking; and searching the internet, paper, and other sources for job postings and career news.

Another emphasis of this stage is upon patience and judgment; in other words, it's best to carefully consider one's options, as opposed to jumping at the first opportunity whether it appears to be a good fit or not.

We should add here that there are certain cognitive styles which also ease the stresses of one's practical endeavors to manage financial stress. One of these, looking for the positive aspects of one's current condition, is a great strategy to practice on a regular basis and works for nearly everyone. Another, however, the attempt to minimize the import of the situation, is only effective if it isn't used in the extreme: Some people are so good at denying their problems that they cannot face things realistically enough to arrive at a solution.

Under the category of practicality, there is the use of stress relief activities, which should be matched to the individual's tastes and interests. For example, some people find relief from yoga, meditation, relaxation exercises, and massage, while others find relief from music, TV, regular exercise, hanging out with friends, or working on the computer. We heartily recommend such activities because they not only provide stress relief but distraction as well: It just isn't good to obsess about or work on one's problems 24/7.

II. The psychological

This aspect of managing stress is at least as important as the practical issues discussed above. Why? Because if one has a tendency toward emotional difficulty, this difficulty is likely to come to the forefront during a time of stress.

Thus a good stress management step is to keep a lookout on oneself for counterproductive emotional reactions which make things worse if not recognized and dealt with appropriately. Some examples include:
Adjustment Disorder
Alcohol Abuse
Losing One's Temper
Taking Frustration Out on One's Spouse
Becoming Overwhelmed with Anxiety
Becoming Depressed
Eating Excessively
Suffering Grief
Insomnia, Tension
Abusing Drugs
Becoming Suicidal.

If one notices any of the tendencies or disorders noted above, it is wise to seek the services of a mental health professional who specializes in the problem observed.

Attention Deficit Disorder

ADD/ADHD

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), with or without Hyperactivity, is the most common mental health problem among young school children, and the disorder will sometimes persist well into adulthood. We discuss the problem more thoroughly on our website; however, here we wish to emphasize what to consider first with children who may have ADD or ADHD.

Primarily, it is essential to consult the services of a specialist when trying to decide whether or not a child is suffering from this problem. This is because ADD and ADHD are both underdiagnosed and overdiagnosed, depending on the setting and other factors.

A specialist can determine if a particularly active, distracted or inattentive child is simply within norms expected by age, developmental stage, family, or context. Children truly suffering from the disorder display symptoms that not only are outside normal boundaries but also that persist over time in quite a number of different situations.

It is equally important not to miss the diagnosis, because school difficulties, family disruption, parental frustration, low self-esteem, and a bullying personality - all of which may result from or accompany the disorder - tend to worsen over time without treatment. Untreated, children with ADD/ADHD are also more likely to develop anxiety disorders, depression, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and Conduct Disorder.

Please go to the ADD page on our website to read more about this problem, which is discussed at length at the bottom of the page.

Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten

So Your Child is Going to Kindergarten?

Tips for parents of children starting Kindergarten


Talk with your child about his/her hopes, expectations, and fears about starting.

Acknowledge ALL of your child’s feelings regarding beginning Kindergarten, even if they seem different from what you might expect.

Encourage your child to take risks to get to know other kids.

Remind your child that it’s okay to ask for help.

Don’t take a long time when dropping off the child. A quick hug and “have a nice day” phrase followed by promptly leaving the scene shows that you have confidence your child will transition smoothly.

Stress and the Poor Economy

$ and Stress

There are are 2 main issues to address when confronted with this problem:

I. The Practical

This includes all the things a person would normally do to address money problems and is primarily action-oriented, placing priority on good decision-making and common sense. Examples include:

1) Reducing expenses
2) Retraining or getting more formal education
3) Looking for a better economy, which in some cases may be nearby. To give an example relevant to Colorado, the Denver area is feeling the effects of high gas prices and foreclosure rates; however, Glenwood Springs, Aspen, and Rifle - all just 2-3 hours away - are booming, especially for the natural gas and construction industries.
4) Updating a resume and possibly involving a headhunter
5) Consulting job counselors of various sorts
6) Performing Internet searches and posting one's resume at various places such as Monster.com
7) Networking
8) Joining a job search support group
9) Exploring a home business, self-employment, or other entrepreneurial activity

II. The psychological

This category may be broken into general and specific stress management techniques.

A. General:

1) Regular exercise
2) Appropriate intake of alcohol and caffeine
3) Regular use of relaxation exercises, yoga, or massage
4) 5 minutes each day of a simple meditation technique such as observing the breath going in and out
5) Social Activities
6) Other distracting, engaging, and pleasant activities

B. Specific

1) The most important thing here is contemplation time, an invaluable exercise for those who can tolerate it. While alone and free from distractions, please explore your thoughts about everything that is upsetting about the problem; trying very, very hard to put all your emotions into words. This one is as tricky as it is essential because many people do not wish to experience their feelings deeply enough to label or truly understand them. During times of financial stress especially, emotional themes of of worthlessness, failure, catastrophe, or uselessness are common and acutely painful, so much so that many people become unable to put into place the positive steps outlined above in sections I and II.

2) Because of the difficulty involved with contemplation, it is often useful to seek the assistance of a mental health expert, who may be very helpful in the contemplative part of this and who may also know specific relaxation, re-breathing, or hypnotic techniques to help relieve some of the stress. A good therapist will tailor many of the steps mentioned above into a treatment plan, then meet with you regularly to ensure the steps in the plan are carried out. An expert can also assess whether the emotional consequences of the problem are serious enough to warrant a medication - consult with an appropriate psychiatrist or physician.

Healthy Aging

Keys to Healthy Aging

 Maintain Healthy Relationships with family and friends.


 Develop your spiritual connection.


 Engage in playful activities. Get regular exercise


 Be sure to take time for physical connection. Give and receive hugs. Get a massage.


 Help someone else. Volunteer in a hospital, at a pet shelter, in a day care. Be a Big Brother or Sister.


 Keep your mind stimulated. Take an adult education course, start a book club, develop a new hobby.


 Travel - Many Universities are part of a Senior Hostel system..


 Find groups that share common interests.

by Renee Strauss, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Clinical Member, Westside Behavioral Care, Inc., in Denver Colorado.