In today’s economy, stress caused by financial hardship may affect one's health negatively: insomnia, poor diet, lethargy, even depression can strike.
If you’re facing this situation, due to a recent layoff or other life event that blindsided you, you might be identifying with Edgar Allen’s Poe’s narrator in his story, The Pit and the Pendulum.
In the tale, the reader learns that the narrator is strapped to a table underneath a pendulum that swings. The pendulum has a blade and as it slowly descends toward the narrator’s heart, you can sense his fear, helplessness, and emotional turmoil. At the very last second, he is able to break free from the strap and escape the pendulum’s swing, but he isn’t out of the woods yet.
There are more challenges for the narrator, trapped in his dark prison. The prison walls heat up and begin to close in on him. The reader predicts the narrator will surely fall and meet with death. Then, suddenly, a mysterious person latches onto him and prevents his fall. There is a happy ending after all.
Like the narrator in Poe’s story, if you've lost a job and are struggling to find work it can feel like you’re trapped in a prison. Waiting for the pendulum to swing in your favor takes perseverance and it’s easy to become discouraged and disheartened. The process of waiting to find employment may be slow and painful.
So how do people stop their prison walls from closing in?
According to the experts, there are things you can do to combat stress during challenging life situations. Not every stress-buster will work for every person, but the list provides some excellent strategies that might help someone who is feeling overwhelmed by day-to-day stress.
Some ideas to cope include:
1. Spend more time outdoors—sunlight is good for you!
Sally Augustin, Ph.D, is a practicing environmental psychologist who studies person-centered design and sensory science. In her article, Psychological Return on Investment – Daylight and Wood, she reports:
“From a psychological perspective, anything you can do to get more daylight into a space is a good investment. If that daylight comes with a nature view, so much the better, but even if it doesn't, make sure to let the sun stream in. It will boost your mood and your mental performance. Sunlight is a great stress buster.”
Article comments
1 - cher
My Dear Lu,
Of course you brought me to tears as I read this. They were tears of gratitude that so ever quickly I had found a friend, someone in whom I believe with all my heart. And there were tears shed for you having to deal with wretched circumstances that you do not deserve.
During my time "in the wilderness," alone and feeling forsaken, the one thing I clung to was my faith in God. Oh, you can be sure that there were times when I railed at Him in anger. And though I am not dogmatic, somehow shreds of faith had remained. One night, a Christmas night to be exact, I found myself on my knees praying---no, talking to God. I thought it was a one-sided conversation, but somehow it gave me a chance to purge all those feelings...to someone. Believe it or not, two weeks later the answers I had sought arrived.
Now, I am not saying God is on a time-line! But He did answer. I know this beyond all rational or speculative thinking. I just know because I know. And I also believe that certain people are placed in our lives for a reason.
Your friendship is a gift to me, one to be cherished and nurtured. I will not let go of this tether, and I will storm the heavens for you when you do not have the strength.
Keep writing, my dear friend. Write your socks off! Soon the world will discover the unique talents you possess. And maybe think about that conversation. The answers will arrive when you least expect them, and together we will celebrate, even as I celebrate you now.
Lovingly,
Cher
2 - Rosie Gern
This is a beautiful piece. You have some very sensible pointers here which most of us overlook. During these hard times it would do well indeed for us to find some effective ways to cope and keep our sanity. There is always hope, and a choice. We only have to look for it
I like the way you melded an Edgar Allan Poe story into this article. It makes it unique. Very clever.
3 - Joren van Dijk - environmental psychologist
Removing stuff from your environment might also work; easy to perceive environments create a positive affect (processing fluency theory, see, for instance, Reber, Schwarz & Winkielman).