Dismal Economy Stresses Out Even Those Doing Relatively Well

Feeling stressed about economic issues? You're not alone.

Even those who are relatively well-off and handling their own finances responsibly are worrying more than they used to, perhaps because of an increasing sense that they have less control than they thought they did over their own fates as the global economy has plummeted, according to the New York Times.

Among those who have sought professional help is paralegal Elizabeth Dewey-Vogt. Her shrinking overtime pay prompted her to move in with her parents in Alexandria, Va., but then she began “constantly worrying about finances” and suffering panic attacks, the 25-year-old tells the newspaper. She now takes anti-anxiety medication and tries to follow a therapist's advice to focus intently on the license plate ahead of her, when driving, or to tightly grip the arms of her chair at work if intense feelings of anxiety strike.

Professionals and other white-collar workers seem to have been particularly hard-hit by the sudden economic downturn. Psychologist Steven Craig of Birmingham, Mich., tells the Times that those "of less means” may be handling the situation better since “their identity is not as caught up in how much money they have.”

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