Economic Ailments

“Man needs difficulties; they are necessary for health.”—Carl Gustav Jung, Psychiatrist 1875-1961) In the psychiatric and counseling communities, professionals use a tool called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition—better known as the DSM-IV. The manual, as explained by AllPsych.com, is published by the American Psychiatric Association and covers all mental health disorders. It also lists known causes of these disorders. ... Mental health professionals use this manual to help third-party payers (e.g., insurance) understand the needs of the patient and to get payment. In layman’s terms, it covers everything from simple, short-term reactions to stress, to substance abuse and mild depression all the way to much more serious and debilitating disorders.

They are currently in the process of updating this “Mental Health Bible” for its 5th edition, and it is this editor’s opinion (one with a psychology background) that some new recession “disorders” will have to be added into the fold.

What was once known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), can now be dubbed HR-PTSD, for human resources personnel on the front lines of layoffs and staff cutbacks, as well as for those who have been laid off. Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia (PDwA) can now be referred to as 401K-PDwA, which is characterized by severe heart pounding, flop sweat-filled, never-leave-the-house-again, panic attacks every time one decides to check on the current state of their retirement savings. And a good old-fashioned Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can be reclassified as MSNBC/CNN/FOX/NPR OCD disorder, which can best be recognized by an uncontrollable need to watch news streams to find out what is happening with this recession, if the DOW is up or down, what Obama will do next and how the banks, mortgages and jobs are faring.

What is the treatment for such disorders you ask? First, take a moment to close your eyes and breathe. Keep working with the tenacity you would during good economic times. Visualize the end of this and all of the positive forward motion that will occur when the nation leaves this all behind. Lastly, do something that you love to do to reduce stress. Perhaps something you stopped doing long ago; yoga, running, cooking, painting, anything that puts you back in touch with a calmer, stress-free, relaxed you.