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Nourishing Relationships

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Recover from Financial Panic by Investing in Yourself


The financial crisis has affected many people and involved losses on many levels –jobs, 
income, money in the stock market, a certain comfort level, retirement funds, a sense 
of security, dreams for the future. And, inevitably, these feelings of loss are 
accompanied by a period of grieving. Ever since Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross first 
identified the stages of mourning in her seminal book, “On Death and Dying,” bards, 
mental health experts and pundits have waxed philosophical about this process.

These stages are universal and can relate to any catastrophic personal loss. Kübler-Ross 
maintained that the steps do not necessarily come in any particular order, nor are all 
of them necessarily experienced by everyone. If you or your loved ones have lost money, 
trust or confidence, evaluate where you are in this process by the stages and comments below: 

•	Denial – “Others may be worried about money issues but this can’t be happening to me.”
•	Anger – “Why me? I haven’t done anything to deserve this financial mess.”
•	Bargaining – “I’ll do anything if you just help me secure my retirement account.” 
•	Depression – “I’m so discouraged, what’s the point in even trying to save?”
•	Acceptance – “These problems are serious, so I might as well prepare for the long haul.”

Dr. Kubler-Ross describes the final stage of acceptance as generating the energy to 
reinvest in new objects. As you begin to recover from the economic upheaval, don’t you
think you will be best served by investing in your own wellbeing? 
As a private citizen, it’s difficult for you to influence government policy, but you 
can have control over your own health. The average annual cost of health care in the 
United States is over 2 trillion dollars - a large drain on the economy. Almost 75% of
health care dollars are spent treating chronic preventable illness. You have the power 
to make in-roads if you take your health into your own hands. Here are some ways to 
start taking more personal responsibility:

1. Participate in regular physical exercise that you enjoy and find engaging. The Centers 
for Disease Control recently released the ‘2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.’ 
The guidelines, which recommend incorporating both aerobic activity and flexibility/strength 
training into your weekly routine, are a result of overwhelming evidence of the benefit of
exercise in chronic disease prevention. Studies indicate that aerobic exercise brings more
blood and oxygen to your brain cells. So you can improve your mood, control your weight and 
protect yourself against cognitive loss, all at once.

2. Alleviate stress by the consistent practice of yoga or meditation. The first few times
you try yoga, your body may be resistant and the postures may feel uncomfortable. Meditation 
can also be difficult at the beginning - having to sit still and to quiet your mind.  However, 
if you decide to study yoga or meditation, and practice it regularly with the assistance of an
experienced and compassionate instructor, you can produce results that go far beyond merely
alleviating stress.

3. Maintain a healthy diet, rich in fruits and vegetables and moderate in fat. Research has
shown that keeping track of what you eat, and why, is one of the most powerful tools in a
weight change program. If you are significantly overweight, you have a greater risk of 
developing many diseases including high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, stroke and some 
forms of cancer. Reaching and maintaining a healthier weight, or even losing a few pounds 
or preventing further weight gain, has considerable health benefits. 

4. Recognize how you deal with tension related to money. Financial pressure can lead to 
unhealthy activities like smoking and drinking. If these behaviors are causing problems
for you, try to find healthier approaches to managing anxiety. There are 12-step and behavior
modification programs that provide the guidance and support that you need. 

There is now no doubt that this financial crisis will be deep and go on for a long time.
You may have already suffered a loss of faith, trust or confidence. Fear and uncertainty
contribute to the failure of conventional wisdom in tough times. But the human spirit is 
resilient. And the best antidote to stress is taking care of yourself. What lessons have 
you learned from these difficult circumstances, and can now put to good use? Begin to
believe that you have control over your life. If you choose to live a healthier lifestyle, 
you could save a lot of money and perhaps even lower your taxes.

© Her Mentor Center, 2008


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