Confronting recession-related anxiety
According to a recent article in the New York Times, concerns over the recession, finances and job prospects are creating increasing stress in peoples' lives. No brainer, right? But even more interesting, the New York Times suggests that people who aren't at risk of losing their job or livelihood are suffering anxiety and panic attacks at high rates as well.
Interesting, isn't it, the ways that fear can replace fact, or distort it to the point where we have trouble recognizing it? But here's the other thing -- fear or fact, fact or fiction, times are stressful right now. And the UW has resources that can help. Read on for details.
Worried about losing your current job? Wondering about finding your first one, if you're about to graduate? The UW Career Center can help. From our Spring Career Fair (90 employers coming to hire!) to HuskyJobs (over 1,000 positions posted at any time!) and our expert career counselors and resources, we're here to help you find meaningful employment.
Concerned that a change in your finances, or your family's finances, could affect your ability to continue attending UW? Check in with Financial Aid -- they're here to help you navigate the world of funding your education, and many more funds are coming available, thanks to the Obama administration. Before you make the decision to leave the University, check out your options and the financial support available to you.
Having trouble sleeping, eating, or experiencing panic attacks or symptoms of anxiety or depression? Consider connecting with the UW Counseling Center. Dealing with concerns around the recession, the job market, and our financial future are no small matter, and the Counseling Center can help. From one-on-one counseling to a "Career Group", many opportunities exist for support and guidance.
Take a step back. Take a break from worrying about finances, your job search, your 401K or your student loans. Never being able to leave those thoughts and worries behind is a surefire way to breed anxiety. So take a walk around Greenlake, attend a yoga class at the IMA or your local gym, download a podcast about meditation practice and go zen, grab a latte at Starbucks and read or people-watch. Go to the Zoo (I'm serious - they have a baby gorilla, and he is awesome), the Aquarium, or the Pike Place Market. Catch a Husky baseball game or rent a kayak at Agua Verde (if the weather ever gets nice again).
Take a deep breath, allow yourself some breathing room, and know that there are people here to help. Resources abound at the UW, Dawgs, to help you navigate these tricky times. So tap into the folks listed above. Let us know how we can help.
