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Penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. $500 Minimum Opening Balance. 0.35% Money Market for balances of $50,000-$249,999.99* Annual Percentage Yield *Rates as follow: SO - $4,999.99 APY 0.05%, $5,000 - $24,999.99 APY 0.25%, $25,000 - $49,999.99 APY 0.30%, S50,000 - $99,999.99 APY 0.35%, $100,000 - $249,999.99 APY 0.35%, $250,000 - $499,999.99 APY 0.45%, $500,000 - 999.999.99 APY 0.55%, $1,000,000 - above APY 0.65% Variable rate product subject to change. Offer good until March 1, 2013. Minimum balance or excessive transaction fees may reduce earnings. Member FDIC 24 December 13 • 2012 S ince the downturn in the economy, times have been tough. Many have lost their jobs; some have lost their homes. Issues related to these events, as evi- denced in my clinical practice, have resulted in a dramatic increase in anxiety. Anxiety serves different purposes: It can generate positive energy that can excite or motivate, such as when preparing for a presentation or sporting event. Or as a response to these same endeavors, it can paralyze. Anxiety and depression often are connected, but there are distinct differences. Depression typically has a specific cause or reason. In contrast, psychologists describe the vague nature of anxiety as "free-floating; that is, uncon- nected to a specific situation or event. My clients portray anxiety as being engulfed in a cloud of doubt or appre- hension with no way to dissipate it. Worry is the central feeling associ- ated with anxiety. Small concerns intensify into monumental forebod- ing as a workable reality changes into an unpredictable fantasy. As anxiety increases, the individual ruminates about a range of potential perils of some unanticipated disaster. Trepidation in the face of a dreaded outcome gives rise to the instinctual inclination to flee. This fear instigated by some uncontrollable outcome can be paralyzing and emotionally debilitating. Like Alice in Wonderland, discerning fact from fiction becomes infuriating. Emotional symptoms, such as agitation, irrational thoughts or wari- ness, can be accompanied by physical symptoms, such as disrupted sleep, shaking, tearfulness, or rapid or drawn-out breathing. When emotion overcomes logic, anxiety can trigger embarrassment, magnifying concerns about whether one will be accepted or rebuffed by others. Some may seek to isolate themselves from presumed social rejection precisely at the time when social support is needed most. Misinterpreting social or environ- mental signals can cause a variety of irrational reactions. Heightened ner- vousness can overwhelm, potentially leading to panic attacks. It is impor- tant to realize that the anxiety from which the individual wants to escape emanates from within, so, therefore, there is no safe place to flee. As much as he or she would like, jettisoning anxiety like excessive baggage, espe- cially alone, is arduous. When people encounter someone who is confront- ing anxiety, they may not understand what is actu- ally happening. Their first response may be to try to calm the individual. In their minds, they are try- ing to ease what seems like an absurd reaction to a presumably mundane cir- cumstance. Even calm talk- ing can excite uncontrolled emotions. However, saying "get over it" or "it can't be that bad" only debilitates an already distressed person. Instead, seek ways to lower the person's already elevated emotions by redirecting the person toward some special focus. It is noteworthy that most people do not realize that anxiety experiences generally last fewer than 15 minutes. The first few minutes of anxiousness are the most intense, causing others to expect a prolonged event rather than a quick recovery. Having available social support can reduce the impact of an anxiety-provoked event and, ultimate- ly, make recovery easier. We all have experienced anxiety. As children, we worried about strang- ers, weird sounds late at night or whether monsters were hiding in the closet. Our parents offered comforting thoughts or enticed us into a favorite activity to reduce our uneasiness, and most of us outgrew our fears. Yet, oth- ers have sustained these feelings well into adulthood. For some, getting a therapist's help, possibly including medication from a doctor, can lead to a reduction in anxiety. Taking that first step in itself may be fraught with anxiety. Yet, time and assistance can dramatically change a person's life for the better. ❑ Dr. Daniel Rosenbaum is a clinical social worker at Counseling Associates Inc. in West Bloomfield, where he counsels chil- dren, teens and adults experiencing family or personal psychological problems. Reach him at (248) 626-1500.