Is the recession making you depressed? Cranky?

[AGDee]

I haven't been able to find a link, but they said on our morning news today that Michigan's unemployment rate went from 8.8% in October to 14.6 in November (seasonally adjusted). All I can say is ... isht.

[UGAalum94]

There's something about being reminded that other people are worse off than you that actually can intensify routine crankiness. Yes, we should be appreciative of the things that we have absolutely, but it doesn't make your employer doing its typical morale destroying stuff any more fun. Feeling trapped by knowing that there's no place better to go doesn't improve the management you're getting.

[aggieAXO]

I am very depressed about the economy. We are starting to feel it here in Austin. It sucks when I have to euthanize an animal that is treatable due to finances (this is not new but lately it has been much worse). I have paid for some of the treatments myself and saved a couple of animals but I can't keep doing this. Sometimes I send the animal home with minimal treatment but I am always thinking about how that pet is doing and wondering-are they suffering?? We had 2 full grown cats dumped at our south location, they were so frightened and cold (a tech took them in thank goodness). More and more people have to give up their pets, the shelters are full. People get mad at me when I can't take payments even though I explian to them I do not own the clinic, I have no control over pricing. I had one lady say to me: "well I guess only rich people can have animals" in a vey nasty voice. It makes me hate my job and is very stressful.
All I can say is try and plan for the worse and hope for the best.
ok I am going to jump off a cliff J/K (maybe)

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

There's something about being reminded that other people are worse off than you that actually can intensify routine crankiness.

YES! This is so true...I have a friend who does this ALL THE TIME. Anything, from "I'm tired," to "I haven't dated anyone in a while," to "This is going to be a tight month..." he always tells me that he has it worse. Grrrrr!

[texas*princess]

Hmmmm

I'm thinking this might be worse than I thought it would be in the beginning.

Several months ago (August/Sept-ish) I figured it was going to get crappy for a little bit longer and all would be better once '09 rolled around...

but it's not really looking that way.

[LightBulb]

I'm more worried than cranky, though maybe a little depressed too. Finding a job is going to be hell.

[AKA_Monet]

Not to be all silver lining, but I have been through the late 1980's early 1990's recession when none of my friends found jobs, then the downsizings...

I started a business earlier this year. I don't know if it will be successful because I have not finalized my business plan. But, I have moved forward with the formal paperwork that "legitimizes" my business--i.e. EIN, master business license, certificate of formation, etc. Which means, I pay B&O taxes where I have zero income with large amount of expenses... But, I think this can happen... And I am passionate about my business.

Also, I am going back to a certification class different from my educational degrees.

The recession may be fearful for many of us because none of us know the future. But, I am faithful that something will work out and someday this sunshine. I guess you take the good and the bad and the ugly.

The word "depression" depresses people...
~Robert Reich

[Zephyrus]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_d...=5&id=413&cn=5

My sister works retail, and has noticed a sharp uptick in cranky customers. Some of that may be the season (why does Christmas bring out the worst in so many?), but I've noticed an overall decline in the moods of friends and family. Heck, come to that, I'm much grumpier than usual.

Have y'all noticed a difference in your mood or that of those around you? Do you think it's the economy? It's tough to be upbeat when you are worried about your mortgage, or your job . . . what do you think?

Yeah, I think the economy has made a lot of people grumpy. When money is slow, that would cause anyone to get a little ticked off.

[sunnyhibiscus]

I've seen on a report that kids are asking Santa for jobs, not toys.

That's heartbreaking.

[Honeykiss1974]

I'm cranky but I have a toothache. It is the same tooth that my dentist just worked on 2 weeks ago (which by the way, did not hurt until AFTER he worked on it).

He better not be trying to stimulate his economy through my mouth.

ok that sounded like a bad sex joke.

[gee_ess]

I live with a banker...I am constantly having conversations about the financial situation, and, yes, it is depressing!

We also were around for the early 80's and, in my opinion, this is much worse because the effects seem to be so far reaching. That said, I do feel the media perpetuates a lot of the doom and gloom. Our feeling is that the situation is very real and can easily go very wrong in a matter of days (if the local plant shuts down, people can't pay their bills, then default on loans, etc) and so that makes the future very hard to "bank" on.

We, as are almost everyone we know, pulling in our spending, erring on the side of caution, preparing for the worst but hoping for the best! Did I mention I will have two kids in college next year?! aagh!

[RaggedyAnn]

My friend's company decided to remove a weeks vacation from everyone's compensation package. She is the Director of Human Resources, so was in the meeting when the President said "if they don't like it, let them quit. I'll have their position filled in a day." The sad thing is, the President is right. Unemployment numbers are just that high.

[moe.ron]

I've been grinding my teeth at night and I wake up with really bad headache. It all started when the market tanked.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Amen to that, but I might just up and quit and get like 3 retail or food service jobs or something. Watch this space, kids.

AKA_Monet is on point saying a lot of it is due to Seasonal Affective Disorder. You have that plus a recession, you are not going to have shiny happy people about.

What's sad is that retail isn't even hiring. And if they are, they want you to have experience. Another thing is that the crime rate here is starting to rise. An 86 year old woman got carjacked down the road from me at a meat market that my mom frequents, and it's across the street from the mall. I'm not sure I want to be walking out of the mall after a night shift. Too dangerous.

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

My fear - not media-driven - is simply that this is just the beginning. I know that here in Houston our economy has been sheltered from some of the effects of the recession by the energy industry. With gas prices dipping so low - which is a real relief for most of the country - our oil and gas industries will have to make cuts. That means our housing market, which has suffered but not as badly as other places - will start to feel it. All those unemployed energy employees won't be able to spend money and the effects will trickle down to every other business here in town.

Gas prices have risen a good 40cents in the last month. Back to $2 a gallon.

Originally Posted by epchick

I agree with this sentiment. I can't blame the recession for me not getting a job, because there are plenty of places hiring. Why I haven't gotten a job yet, I have no idea. That is what contributes to my moody, that I can't get even a simple desk job (I agree, my degree seems pretty useless at the moment). I've been out of work since Dec. '07, so it just frustrates me.

I'm in the same boat. There are SO MANY jobs out there hiring. I've sent out over 100 resumes to the companies that I'm actually eligible for. I haven't gotten one phone call. My friends told me that I may be over qualified for the jobs I'm applying for. I'm thinking about lying on my resume to say that I did NOT graduate college. I'm sick of seeing people who haven't stepped foot on a college campus, or those without even a high school diploma, getting these jobs over those of us who have worked our asses off to get where we should be.

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

The UAW will hate me, but I think it's time for concessions. When sitting in my outplacement class last week, our coach, who is a labor-relations expert, outlined UAW wages plus benefits: it costs the companies over $70 per hour, per employee.

I used to be one of those people who stuck up for the UAW but after really thinking about it and seeing numerous things on the news where they just don't want to give anything up and are STILL fighting for more benefits, I'm just disgusted and can't help but think they are to blame. I know someone who got a LARGE buyout package and they hadn't even been there a year. When I say large, I mean pushing towards $100,000.

[AGDee]

A big part of the problem, PM_Mama, is that companies that have one open position get inundated with so many resumes that they can't even look at all of them. There was a position posted on our website for a job in purchasing and they got over 200 resumes the first day, took the posting down and only kept the first 100 resumes that came in.

Interestingly, I just found a PDF on our retirement savings plan website that says your election to participate in our RSP is irrevocable UNLESS HFHS reduces the employer contribution to the Plan. "If that happens, you may change your original election." Therefore, I should be able to opt out. My manager is going to ask HR about it and I don't expect the answer to be good, but I feel better having raised the question.