Fear, Stress, Anxiety: A Global Recession's Personal Economics

[marmar]

from Washington Post:



Fear, Stress, Anxiety: A Global Recession's Personal Economics

By Nancy Trejos
Washington Post Staff Writer

Sunday, March 1, 2009; Page F01


Eileen Griffin always wanted to own a bookstore. So three years ago, when she retired from her job as a national account manager for Random House, she took all her savings and opened the Griffin Bookshop and Coffee Bar in downtown Fredericksburg. It became a local favorite, with live music performances on Friday and Saturday nights. "This is my big dream. When I retired, I thought, 'This is great -- I'm going to open a bookstore and a coffee bar," she said. "Then the economy started doing what it's doing."

Sales slowed in September. In December, around the holidays, there was a rally. But January brought with it a terrible slump. She cut some of her employees' hours and ordered fewer shipments of books. She stopped offering live music on Saturdays, shutting down the store at 5 p.m. instead of 9:30 p.m.

"Rather than paying myself, I'm putting all the money back in the store. I'm praying this is all going to get better in the next couple of months," she said.

Griffin, 62, is terrified of losing her business. She has turned to her friends, her daughter and fellow business owners for comfort. "I have my entire retirement in the store," she said.

The country might be not be in a depression, but many Americans feel that they are. Local and national mental health experts said that the loss of jobs, homes and retirement savings has triggered an increase in the number of people with symptoms related to anxiety or depression, such as changes in sleeping and eating patterns, headaches, and nervousness. Some psychologists and therapists said they are getting calls from new clients seeking their help in dealing with the financial crisis. Others said current patients are increasingly talking about how the recession is causing them angst. Financial advisers, meanwhile, said they are spending more time, on the phone or in person, reassuring their clients. ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/28/AR2009022800150.html?hpid=topnews

[GoesTo11]

1. Poor woman, but this is a cliche

"I'd like to open a coffee shop / bookstore. And it'll be more than just a bookstore, but a place where people like to come and spend time". This is a guaranteed way to lose money while working 14 hours per day. Nice that she tried, though.