Resources for Managing Mental Health in Tough Economic Times

From Elizabeth McMahon, PhD: General stress management tips include Physical Exercise (such as walking, sports, yoga, tai chi, qi gong, etc.), Spiritual Practices (such as prayer, chanting, meditation, mindfulness, etc.), Relaxation (such as slow diaphragmatic breathing, muscle relaxation, guided imagery, etc.), and Positive Healthy Behaviors (such as reaching out to others, doing things that lift your spirits, maintaining healthy eating and sleeping habits, and noticing the positives in your life).

Click here (Stress Management Techniques), for the techniques presented by Elizabeth McMahon, PhD on the show. Learn how to handle worry, fears, or other distressing thoughts.

On the Web:

Bridges To Jobs

    • Meets every Saturday morning from 9:30-11:30am at the Centerville Presbyterian Church 4360 Central Avenue, Room E201 in Fremont, CA. Mission: Emotional support in a safe and caring environment for individuals who are unemployed or seeking work with job search related training classes, job opportunities when available, resume writing help, interviewing skills training, networking opportunities and more.
  • East Bay Works within the Employment Development Department (EDD) at 39155 Liberty St. Suite B200 Fremont, CA 94538, 510-794-3669, One-Stop Center Hours, Monday – Friday 8am- 5pm. They have a job club and self-help resources for traditional blue color and a ProMatch professionals self help group. It also has a number of on-line job search tools.
  • ProMatch located in Sunnyvale, CA is high tech oriented. It is an interactive career resource center for professionals who are seeking work in Silicon Valley and the greater San Francisco Bay Area.
  • Financial Anxieties: Nine Steps for Coping with Your Worries by Robert Leahy, PhD. Helpful suggestions for coping with tough economic times.
  • Getting Through Tough Economic Times advice from the US Government Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration had resources for management of stress

Books:

    • These books teach ways to change negative, upsetting thoughts to more balanced, constructive thoughts and both books can be helpful with anxiety & worry, sadness & depression, and anger.
  • Mind Over Mood – Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think, by Dennis Greenberger, PhD & Christine Padesky, PhD. The Guilford Press, 1995
  • The Feeling Good Handbook,” by David Burns, MD. Plume, 1999.