Lemondrop

Even if you're not losing your job or your shirt in the current Lehman Brothers/Merrill Lynch/AIG crisis, psychologically, you're probably feeling the crunch. Especially if you're a woman.

Earlier this year, a report from the Institute for Women's Policy Research showed that women worry more than men do about paying bills, feeding kids and saving for retirement. Young women -- who often already feel confused about starting a career and building a life in a scary economy -- can feel increasingly powerless in the face of news about financial forces.

That stress can affect our well-being. Experts warn to watch out for physical manifestations of stress, such as insomnia, neck or chest pain, panic attacks, digestive problems and lack of sex drive.

Psychiatrist Deborah Cross told NPR that old problems like eating disorders or substance abuse often reappear during times of stress; at-home problems like domestic violence also increase when the Dow goes down.

If you are feeling freaked out by the latest financial downturn, psychologists recommend trying meditation or exercise -- and limiting exposure to bleak financial news (i.e., turn the Google Alert off). As psychologist Stephanie Smith told the WSJ, it helps to focus on what you can control: how much you spend on clothes or how often you eat out.