Consumer confidence in Florida hit a near-record low this week, home values are shrinking like a $2 shirt, and it seems every other person in the state lives in Layoffville. Or plans to go there soon. The only thing showing solid gains is our stress level. • So we posed a few questions to Dr. Harold Shinitzky, a Clearwater psychologist and president of the Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Psychological Association. Among the areas he specializes in are depression, anxiety and stress.
What's going on here?
"There are two realities. If you've lost your job, it's certainly stressful. But at least you know, and that gives you some sense of direction. It's the not knowing — hearing that there could be layoffs coming — that can be extremely overwhelming. If we know a hurricane is coming, we get ready for it, and then it's over. This is different. There is no time limit. People are under constant stress day after day, and fatigue and exhaustion set in. Even people who have jobs can suffer survivor's remorse after seeing former co-workers lose their jobs.''
So how do you begin to cope?
"You have to figure what's in your control and what's beyond your control. Clearly the economy is out of your control. What you can control is things like updating resumes, taking courses you've been putting off and doing networking. Focus on what you can control.''
What about consumer confidence and how that can snowball downward?
"There is this illusion we have about wealth. About keeping up with the Joneses. But when even the Joneses are starting to be greatly affected, that illusion starts to chip away. For most of us, this is the worst economic experience in our lifetime. This is something out of our control that doesn't appear to be short-lived.''
What about the futility factor? When after months of searching, people find there are still no jobs. And the bills are piling up.
"There are a lot of people struggling who may not have the words to express themselves. When you're under undue stress and you don't cope with it, it starts to eat away at you. People turn to alcohol, drugs, they sleep poorly, have a difficult time making decisions and are more irritable. We also see an increase in domestic violence. And people isolate themselves more. The more you do that, the more futile the experience becomes. You don't keep things in perspective.''
What do you do about that?
"There are lots of things we need to engage in. We really need to turn to family, friends and loved ones and spend time together. Ask for financial assistance. Make sure we get enough exercise. If we think that nothing we do will make a difference, this is where people can have dangerous thoughts. This is where we need to turn to other people. The more you isolate yourself, the more potential for catastrophe."
Who we talk to matters?
"Surround yourself with people who aren't the negative doomsayers. They're toxic.''
Is there anything good that can come of this?
"Last Christmas, a lot of kids didn't get big-ticket gifts. But the families didn't fall apart. I think this teaches us that what's most important to each of us is our loved ones. We might begin to start focusing on the quality of living, rather than the standard of living.
"It doesn't cost anything to play a board game, go on walks, do things together. It might give us a chance to readjust our priorities, and that's a tremendous positive."
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