Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

• Housecall
• Alzheimer's caregiving
• Living with cancer

• December 31, 2009 3:12 p.m.

  Here in saint louis, we have a classical music radio station which broadcasts the stock market news at 10 minutes to each hour. I listen to the station for the music. Having had, as most people did, reason to be concerned, I listened to the stock market news every day on the way to work. I became so down hearted that I eventually chose to turn it off at ten mintes to the hour. My mood improved considerably. Barbara A. "Cry Depression, Celebrate recovery."

  - Barbara A

• February 22, 2009 1:49 p.m.

  There is an old Maine saying that I have been thinking about . . ."use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." I am also thinking about planting a vegetable garden this year .

  - Susan

• February 20, 2009 9:33 a.m.

  When my mother speaks of being a child in the depression years she talks of family and neighbors being closer, sharing and helping each other out with what they did have. Making a pot of home made beans a complete meal; enough for any and everyone coming to the table. Hanging a side of pork in the attic for the winter for their meat. Maybe this downturn in the economy is a time to reflect on our true needs, rather than just our wants.

  - carol

• February 19, 2009 8:36 a.m.

  In my opinion, the solution is to stop listening to the talking heads. They don't know or have a solution any more than I do but I do know what is necessary in my life and that is not to allow some fool on the news tell me how bad things are for me. There just isn't any cure to be found in the media so why listen to all their doom and gloom? As for being pro-active, it is important to pick the brains of some of the gurus but use your common sense as well. Just because something worked yesterday doesn't mean it will work tomorrow. FJ

  - Farmer John

• February 17, 2009 3:55 p.m.

  I think it is important to know when to STOP talking about the economy. Sometimes it is useful venting, sometimes it just brings you down. Yesterday I had lunch with a friend, and for once we Didn't talk about the economy. Afterwards we both commented on unusual that had become, and on how much better we felt for not going there. One thing that really helps my mood is gardening. The plants don't know what the stock market is doing and they don't care. It is a little early for planting vegetables, but on Saturday I turned the compost pile and while I did, I pictured a bounteous garden feeding me a few months from now. It didn't feel like an escape with payback time sure to follow, it just felt... healthy and good.

  - Sonja

• February 17, 2009 2:18 p.m.

  I like the concept floating around that severe crises give you the opportunity to be very creative. Ask yourself if there is anything you could do that you might not do unless the circumstances were exceptional as they are now. I also think that we need to be kind to ourselves. While cooking at home with friends or family is certainly a worthwhile endeavor, we should treat ourselves and if possible, our family and friends to dinner or a glass of wine or a cup of coffee in a restaurant, bar or coffee shop. In this way we connect with the larger community outside our home. I also agree with Alan that it is necessary to limit our exposure to negative news and remind ourselves that at any given time we are only seeing part of the picture. Finally, spring is or will be soon here. We need to get out and exercise; the warmer weather will make this more enjoyable for all as we watch spring flowers come up. Recently, I have been able to bundle up and have a cup of coffee on my front porch on certain days even though it is still cold where I live. I felt much better after I did this. If you can, try this and see if it lightens your spirit.

  - Barbara

• February 16, 2009 3:45 p.m.

  We can grow and reorient toward our most enduring values in times of turmoil. For example, instead of trying to get our money's worth from some electronic toy, maybe it's time to reconnect with friends and family. Instead of going out to eat, maybe learn to cook healthy food together in your own kitchen. Instead of obsessively watching the "news," a good deal of which can leave us with distorted (by turns fearful, maudlin, oversimplified, sensationalistic, avarice stoking) images of the world, maybe become reacquainted with some of your favorite authors' works, or explore new books by checking them out of a public library. Financial security is important, and so is taking a walk, obtaining balanced information, cooking as a family or with friends. Instead of dwelling on a feeling of loss of what might have been depicted as the good life, maybe it makes sense to seize these occasions to uncover the meaning of "good life" in the present. I've read that feelings follow action, and that we build our future by acting in the present.

  - Alan

• February 16, 2009 10:20 a.m.

  Great advice -as I work in a credit card call center, I hear all kind of worries from just about every state. I always tell my clients that we have to keep the faith that everything will turn out ok.

  - SolielFlora