BPC Monthly Newsletter
Finding Your Way... Through Financial Stress

Tools for Optimizing Emotional & Mental Wellness
March 2006 Issue

In this issue:
Financial Stress
Free Help
Healing Arts

Welcome...
With just about a month left before the April 17th tax deadline, many, if not most of us are experiencing heightened awareness of our financial concerns. This month we are looking at ways to reduce the stress that our particular financial situations may be elevating.

Dorothy Ashma & the staff of Bloomsburg Psychological Center, LLC

Financial Stress

Financial stress can contribute to health problems, mental health symptoms, family discord, marital conflict and job performance. Overcoming this problem takes a two-step approach: Releasing the tension that accumulates whenever you think about money and addressing the problems that are creating that stress.

Daily Stess Management

Daily exercise to release tension.

Avoid using excess sugar, caffeine or alcohol as distractions from your problems.

Learn abdominal breathing (free MP3 download) and use it throughout the day.

Stay in the present and practice Thought Stopping selfesteem. "If only's" and "What if's" just create depression and anxiety.

Address the Problem

Check to see if you are in denial that you have a real problem. Igonoring bills, letters and phone calls from creditors just increases your problems.

Learn how to make a budget and figure out your monthly income and expenses.

Determine the extent of your indebtedness.

Get help from a professional or Debtors Anonymous.

Curb impulsive shopping. Put your credit cards in a container of water and keep them in the freezer to avoid impusive spending. The "high" that you feel from a new purchase is quickly replaced with darker feelings of depression and guilt.

Find ways to spend less, such as eating at home, renting videos, etc.

Live more simply.

Free Help

Bloomsburg Psychological Center,LLC offers free Anxiety and Depression Screenings to anyone in the community. Just call BPC at 570-387-1832 to schedule a time slot. After you fill out the screening, one of our therapists will meet with you for about 15 minutes and go over the results.

Children of Divorce, a group for children ages 6-11 years, will meet on Monday nights from 5-6:30 PM. Ronda Barto, LSW, will guide children through activities, discussions, and writing in a workbook that each child will take with them at the end of the six weeks. Call 570-387- 1832 for details.

Need extra support?
Our area is well supplied with Free Support Groups and Services that can get you connected with other people in similar situations. Our website contains a list of all of the free groups we have heard of. If you know of any that we have missed, please call us at 570-387-1832 and give us the information. Although we confirm the information with each group once a year, we suggest checking with the contact number to make sure the time or location of the meeting has not changed

Healing Arts

The Healing Arts pages on our website allow you to share poems and artwork or be inspired by what others have created.

This month we want to thank Sharon C. Hawk for allowing us to share her poem Serenity.

If you would like to contribute to our poetry or art gallery, please contact us. You can post anonymously, with a pen name, or with your own name.

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