Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE BUDGET IS rarely a happy time for the public, at least in recent years.
If last week’s cuts did affect you, or if several years of austerity is taking its toll, psychologist Shane Martin has some helpful advice on how to keep stress levels down and your mental health in order.
The Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy are holding a free talk this Thursday on how to keep the chin up during times of economic downturn, entitled “How to Cope with the Stress of Debt”.
Research commissioned by the institute showed that for 3 in 10 Irish adults money is a source of stress, while 2 in 10 find that work was causes it.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Martin, who runs Moodwatchers, said that we tend to look at the causes rather than cures where it comes to stress and mental health problems, and we’re also not talking about it enough.
“We should be getting children ready to cope with problems they’re going to face later on in life at an earlier age,” he said, “and arming them with a toolbox that will help them keep their mental health in shape later in life.
“We have a slight bias towards focusing on what makes us ill, rather than finding out how to keep ourselves well”
He said that the most important thing for anyone feeling down about money is “to know that they’re not alone, as there are hundreds of thousands of people across Ireland who are in the exact same situation, and they too have little control over it”.
He stressed the need to discuss your problems with other people, stating that “solitude is the greatest friend of depression”. Closing yourself off to advice and refusing to connect with people will only cause the situation to worsen.
Keep up hobbies
He also advises people to not to forget to invest in your health, to keep up hobbies we may give up as we become older despite them providing a source of relief, and to never make decisions when you are feeling strong emotions as it may just make the situation far worse.
“You can have the situation of someone selling the family farm as a quick and simple way of cutting down on their debt, despite that fact that it may make more sense to keep it as a future source of income”.
“Dark time”
Martin also said that while Ireland is in a “dark time”, it won’t be long before we come out of it.
“The Irish have an innate capacity to survive crisis. We have come through famine, the War of Independence, civil war, The Troubles, and economic crises in recent decades.
“We can come through this storm, and not be engulfed”
The event takes place next Thursday night at 6.30PM, is completely free of charge, although those wishing to attend are asked to pre-book online here.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Money never gets me down. It’s the lack of it that seriously gets me down.
Sounds like a useful course but you have to be a member of IACP in order to pre-book… and have you seen their membership rates? You’ve got to be kidding us, The Journal!
… so much for a “free” course! And with a little further investigation you discover that this guy is due to publish a book soon and is clearly just trying to drum up some publicity. Color me peeved.
Hi there Clodagh. The Institute says it is a “Free Public Talk”, so I will contact them regarding your registration difficulties. Thanks for spotting it.
The pre-booking page requires a membership number. Thanks for checking it up; I appreciate it.
Hi I just booked a place without entering a membership no, it does ask for a number but if you don’t have one it still takes your booking.
Oops! Well amn’t I a big eejit! Thanks Linda :)
Read the Secret. If you worry about not having enough money, you’ll never have enough money.
That is basically a waffly touch feely self help book. If you think positive positive things will happen etc. The mind is powerful alright but it cant generate money outta thin air!
True, but what the book really means if you are aiming for a certain goal you will work towards it sub consciously. But you have to be realistic about your goals all the same. I guess it’s a way of positive thinking. If you believe that you are not going to clear your debts well your not because you are focusing on the obstacles/negatives. But If you believe you will clear your debts you will take less heed of the obstacles and you find ways, either by making more money or stop spending on things we don’t need and feel good about the choice you have made
It wouldn’t get me down if I were to be paid more
It seems the more you have the more stress you have trying to keep it. think about the things that don’t change if you have a financial noose around you neck, these are the things that really matter, Family, friends etc. I’ve been there and back and I never kept these worries from my family and friends, I know it may sound like misery loves company but keeping things to yourself makes it seem worse and finding that others are going through or have been through the same thing helps a lot.
This topic is depressing. The Journal should have saved it for publication tomorrow and not killed my Sunday Buzz. Much more acceptable on a Monday
Money can’t buy you love, unless you live near the Reeperbahn.
I actually feel a bit happier after reading that.
“Dont get stressed with €500 Million tax on all Irish family homes every year to pay for bank bailouts.
Put your future in good hands … your own … Get Even!
—————————————————
How to clawback the odious Local Property Tax (Angle Tax) … and more.
http://www.facebook.com/LocalPropertyTax
have your say