Stock Market News Induced Stress

Are you suffering from Stock Market News Induced Stress?

Sitting in the doctor’s office waiting room with my daughter yesterday, my attention was drawn to the television behind us, tuned to CNN.   Even though I wasn’t really watching it, I could feel my stress level increasing.  I don’t know about you, but the terms debt-ceiling and quantitative easing weren’t in my vocabulary until recently.  Now we are bombarded with doom and gloom predictions and complicated analysis, which may, or may not, be of any real value or purpose – other than creating Stock Market Induced Stress.

“TV is beaming a mix of too-technical and oversimplified information, that’s alternately terrifying and heartening.” writes Joanne Ostrow of the Denver Post (read her article here)

According to Dr. Joanne Cantor PhD your brain is paying attention even if you aren’t.  The radio or television “in the background” isn’t in the background for your brain.  We are hard wired to digest information and to figure out how to deal with it.

Constant exposure to worrisome news increases your stress whether or not you are actively watching or listening.  Increased stress increasing your risk of heart disease.

So what should you do to limit Stock Market Induced Stress?

• Take a break: My daughter and I moved to a different area of the waiting room yesterday.  Cartoons were far less stressful!  Disengage from the news cycle and let your brain rest.
• Choose your engagement: Staying informed is important, however, constant exposure isn’t productive.  Choose one or two times per day to consume the news, and choose your sources wisely.  A newspaper is less anxiety producing than a sensationalized television report.
• Don’t panic: Most financial experts agree this is not the time for rash actions.  Consult with a certified financial planner or other trusted resource before making significant decisions.

Take a deep breath – a decline in your health should be more concerning than a decline in the market.  Take steps to protect yourself from Stock Market News Induced Stress!

Eliz Greene works busy people to improve heart health, so they can work well, feel better, and stress less.

She is a heart attack survivor and the author of the Busy Woman’s Guide to a Healthy Heart as well as 3 other books on wellness. She writes one of the top 50 health and wellness blogs and is a sought-after wellness & stress management speaker.

If you are planning a women’s wellness program, workplace wellness program or programs for healthcare professionals check out EmbraceYourHeart.com to see if Eliz would be a good fit with your organization.