Are You Stressed About Finances?

As an Advocate for healthy living and wellness, it is very enjoyable to provide tips to embetter the emotional and physical well-being of Business Owners and Entreprenuers.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle in a manner where stress is minimal so that one can enjoy their fruit of labor, is one of most important keys to Success as we fulfill our goals our dreams! From here, our contributing Clinician, Shaketa Robinson explains more.

Are you consistently worried or anxious about the economy? Are you feeling overwhelmed about the future of your business? Believe it or not, this feeling has become more common over the past few years.

SAMHSA (SAMHSA, the substance abuse and mental health division of the US Department of Health and Human Services) defines stress as “the body’s response to any demand or pressure”. Emotional distress can also have a negative impact on an individual’s physical health. Some common symptoms of stress include:

• Lack of sleep or over-sleeping
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Excessive worrying
• Poor appetite or over-eating
• Easily irritated or “moody”

As a business owner it is not unusual for a person to wear many hats or find themselves trying to tackle multiple projects alone. If an individual continues to experience such high demands or pressure without relieving the symptoms noted above, it could result in depression, anxiety, or some other form of mental illness. This is why it is imperative to maintain a healthy sense of well being in order to manage stress. Often times, we are consistent with maintaining and improving our physical health (annual exams, prevention screenings, etc.), but choose to neglect our mental health, which is equally important. If left untreated, stress may lead to several chronic illnesses including (helpguide.org):

• Pain of any kind
• Heart disease
• Digestive problems
• Sleep problems
• Depression
• Obesity
• Autoimmune diseases
• Skin conditions, such as eczema

There are some easy, low cost/no cost things you can do to manage your stress level.

• Listen to soft/relaxing music
• Exercise or attend a yoga class
• Take up a hobby (reading, knitting, poetry, painting, etc.)
• Utilize emotional support from friends of family members
• Write down your thoughts/feelings (journal)
• Try focusing on the positive things in your life

These are all healthy outlets which can alleviate emotional distress. However, if an individual has been feeling this way for a long period of time or does not feel relief, it may be a good idea to seek professional help (psychiatrist, professional counselor, etc.). A clinical practice such as, Cornerstone Psychotherapy, is the best place to find help that reinforces a stress-free, psychologically healthy lifestyle, which will surely add more quality and productivity to any business performance.


Shaketa Robinson is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Georgia. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Human Development. She is in private practice with Cornerstone Psychotherapy in Atlanta, GA.
www.cornerstonepsychotherapy.org