The progressive decline of the economy has been taking a physical and emotional toll on people across the country, according to a
2008 Stress in America survey released in October by the American Psychological Association. About half of the people polled said they are increasingly stressed about their ability to provide for their family’s basic needs, and 80% say the economy is a significant source of stress (up from 66% in April). Women especially reported worries about money, job stability, housing costs, and health problems affecting their families.
Middle-of-the-Night Anxiety Explained
Why insomniacs drive themselves crazy with worry
Read more More about stress and health
Compared with 2007, more respondents also said they are fatigued, irritable or angry, and lying awake at night as a result of stress. Almost one-fifth of Americans reported drinking alcohol to manage their stress, and 16% reported smoking—
two factors that can affect your ability to get quality sleep.
(Gauge your personal stress level here.) Another recent survey by
BettyConfidential.com found that women are concerned about issues like "affording groceries and other staples like gas," "losing what took so long to acquire," and "things getting worse in the country and it affecting me." One respondent wrote, "I don’t sleep more than four hours a night. I get headaches. I worry that my kids can’t go to college and my doctor now has me on antianxiety meds. (Thankfully, they are cheap!)" It’s not just U.S. citizens who are affected by the global crisis, either: British website
NetDoctor.co.uk found that one-fifth of U.K. residents surveyed are regularly getting fewer than five hours of sleep a night, and one-fourth wake up more than three times a night. Two-thirds of those reporting insomnia cited money and work as sources of their sleep troubles.
