Can't get to sleep because you're depressed about joblessness? Wake up in the middle of the night because anxiety and night-negativities tell you nothing will get better?

Believe me, you are not alone. But the worst thing we can do right now is not get enough sleep. We need the rest to stay positive, battle depression AND to have the energy to call our congresspeople and The White House to tell them to get to work on a jobs bill that makes a difference!

Dr. Weil, noted integrative medicine specialist has these tips for helping you get the rest you need:

• Establish a consistent bedtime routine, and try to go to bed at the same time every night.
  
  • Get plenty of exercise during the day. The more energy you expend during the day, the sleepier you will feel at bedtime.
  • Reduce or eliminate your intake of caffeine, stimulants and alcohol. Even when consumed early in the day, these can affect sleep.
  • Avoid large meals late in the evening.
  • Learn and practice a relaxation technique regularly: Breathing exercises, meditation and yoga are good examples.
  • Don't obsess about not sleeping. Instead, remind yourself that while sleeplessness is troublesome, it isn't life-threatening.

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UPDATED 20 July, 2010 - HuffPost: As the Senate debates a bill to reauthorize expired domestic aid programs, including a provision to extend jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed, Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) have introduced an amendment that would add COBRA back into the extenders bill.

The amendment failed and the COBRA subsidy did not make it back into HR4213 that passed the SENATE today.

"Millions of Americans have been hard hit by the recession and lost their jobs through no fault of their own," said Senator Casey in a statement Wednesday. "Unfortunately, some people in Washington want to pull up the ladder and take away help for these struggling families. Not extending COBRA premium assistance will hurt hundreds of thousands of people in Pennsylvania and across the country and it will add further strain on our recovering economy."

Fifteen percent of all unemployment insurance recipients rely on the reduced insurance premiums offered by COBRA, the program that allows workers to continue buying their employer-provided health coverage after they've been laid off.

Without the 65 percent subsidy created by the stimulus, COBRA is too expensive for many: Family premiums for COBRA coverage average $1,107 a month for unemployed families without subsidy--that's 84.3 percent of their monthly unemployment insurance checks.

Unless the law is changed, any worker laid off after June 1 will not be eligible for COBRA subsidies, though workers laid off earlier will continue receiving the subsidy.

Extending COBRA will cost $8 billion, but Casey, who led the last effort to extend benefits , is unfazed. "It's an emergency and when you're in an emergency you use emergency spending," he said in a conference call with progressive media Wednesday. "My amendment will make sure that we have eligibility for COBRA extended through November. To do otherwise would be a terrible mistake for real people, for real families, and a terrible mistake for our economy."

The amendment was introduced just a day after President Obama pressed Congress to extend COBRA subsidies in a statement during a town hall question and answer session. The President suggested that while not a long-term solution, COBRA subsidies are necessary since the major provisions of health care reform have yet to kicked in.

A letter from Casey and Brown sent Wednesday to Majority Leader Harry Reid and Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus calls for support for adding COBRA to the extenders bill though November of 2010. HuffPost

UPDATED July 14, 2010 Americans involuntary terminated after May 31, 2010 who would be eligible for COBRA health insurance will NOT be eligible the CORA subsidy under the The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), as amended as amended several times. According to this statement by Assistant Secretary of Labor Phyllis C. Borzi:

Eligible individuals pay only 35 percent of their COBRA premiums and the remaining 65 percent is reimbursed to the coverage provider through a tax credit.

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) October 25, 2009 “ The United States' healthcare system wastes between $505 billion and $850 billion every year, according to a Thomson Reuters report released on Monday. Yes thats BILLION, a third of the US' annual healthcare spending.

"America's healthcare system is indeed hemorrhaging billions of dollars, and the opportunities to slow the fiscal bleeding are substantial," the report reads.

"The bad news is that an estimated $700 billion is wasted annually. That's one-third of the nation's healthcare bill," Robert Kelley, vice president of healthcare analytics at Thomson Reuters said in a statement.

Read more...

WINTER -- dark, cold, wet, slippery. Add in high heating bills, flu/colds, messy floors and well... you catch my (snow) drift. It's the last thing you need on top of being unemployed or underemployed.

Here are a few tips to help you cope through seasonal effectiveness disorder (SAD) during these harsh months:

• Breathe. Deep breathing is your lifeline to clear thinking and maintaining energy. And breathing in cool air can be invigorating.
• Light. There's not nearly enough of it in the winter and light can take the blues away. Check out your local hardware store for full spectrum lightbulbs. Take a break several times a day to go outside and soak up natural light. And, if you haven't moved your desk by the window yet, now is the time.
• Mood Food. Besides the usual good organic veggies and Omega-3s, check out NoJobSurvivor Mood Food recipes. Eating foods that elevate your mood are most important in winter.
• Exercise. Good all the time, but it's tough to get outdoor exercise when the weather is bad. Make a plan now. You don't need to spend a lot of money on the gym. You can do yoga, or free weights, or get exercise on a fitness ball at home.
• Stay connected. Use social media like FaceBook or NoJobSurvivor to be in touch with others, and to take advantage of local events and gatherings. Use email and make phone calls to stay in touch.
• Herbs. Check out your local health food store for herbs that can help keep you up. Some natural health advocates recommend St. John's Wort and Vitamin Bs.
• Acupuncture. Needles can be good for you! Ask for a recommendation from friends, or search for credential and reviews online.
• Professional Help. Don't just jump to any therapist, again, ask for a recommendation from friends, or search for credential and reviews online.
• Stay tuned to NoJobSurvivor! We provide tips and articles to help you stay healthy. Put in a search for STRESS on this site!
• Remember... winter, summer, spring, or fall: Don't Worry, Life Is Still Good!

 

For the gainfully employed, or independently wealthy people, there is a type of stress they will never know. But it's the stress that NoJobSurvivors know all too well -- so well, that I bet many of you think we should go into the business ($) of dealing with stress!

Dr. Weil, the integrative medicine guru writes about how stress can impact our lives. Below is a short list from his site.

Here are some facts about how stress impacts our lives:

• Stress has been linked to all the leading causes of death, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, accidents and suicide.
• Almost 90 percent of all visits to primary health care providers are due to stress-related problems.
• Nearly one-half of all adults suffer adverse effects from stress.
• It is estimated that 1 million Americans miss work due to stress-related complaints.
• Workplace violence has been attributed to stress. Homicide is the second leading cause of fatal occupational injury.

Did you know that NoJobSurvivor has many articles on dealing with stress?

Enter STRESS into the search field at the top right to get some advice on coping with joblessness.

Take care of yourself and remember, Life Is Still Good!