By Sirinia

The rising prices coupled with recent suicide headlines suggest that stress could be reaching worrying levels across the country.

But Chulalongkorn Hospital's Dr Decha Lalitanantpong says there's little to worry about as long as you know how to deal with the pressures.

"Everyone's sharing the same [economic] problems, but there are ways of coping with the stress," says psychiatrist Decha.

Despite the recent headlines, he says, the number of suicides in the country isn't on the rise. In 1996, when the economy took a nosedive, the figures averaged out at 6.9 suicides for every 100,000 people.

That number rose in 1997 to 8.1 then 8.6 the year after. But that was the peak, with suicides having dropped in number ever since. The figure in 2006 was 5.7 per 100,000, far lower than the world average of 15.4.

Luckily, suicidal feelings are usually short-lived, the psychiatrist says. "But the underlying anxiety disorder often remains."

Symptom check

Signs of anxiety disorder include moodiness that comes on more easily or more often than usual, and difficulty sleeping. But, says Decha, many people refuse to face the fact that they have these symptoms.

Anxiety disorder starts with daily frustrations like traffic jams and social conflicts, but can lead on to stress, depression and even psychosis.

Stress results from two factors: accumulating problems, and a sudden disappointment such as heartbreak, career failure or bereavement of a close friend or family member. Each individual's ability to cope with these problems is different, though, influenced by their genetics, family background and childhood experiences.

Some may become more talkative, others more reserved, and a portion will suffer physically with problems like migraine, thyroid problems or joint pain.

Decha says the current economic situation is especially hard on those in debt or with lower incomes.

Answers to anxiety

For stress management, the psychiatrist suggests meditation since it distracts one from daily problems and external stimuli.

Rather than medication, the key is better self-management, says Decha. And that means adjusting ourselves to higher prices by rethinking our budgets. "Stuff like the best seafood and luxury coffee shouldn't be priorities anymore."

Daily Xpress/Asia News Network