“My aunt passed away back in California a couple weeks after my lay off. I had made the commitment to be there for the funeral before that so when I got the news I was stressed out for a few days trying to decide if I really wanted to put a plane ticket on my credit card.”

That’s how Steven Tovar describes the daily decision making that comes with being laid off from his job. “My initial feeling was a sense of urgency,” Tovar added.

Tovar is only one of millions of Americans facing the anxiety of job loss that not stretches people’s bankrolls but they’re emotions as well. New research shows that one in five U.S. workers say the recession is causing them mental health problems, such as battling anxiety and fear over the potential loss of their jobs.

Pamela Retterath, clinical director at Gerard Academy in Austin, says that even people who aren’t directly affected can get caught up in the anxiety of the times. “The doom and gloom of life being accentuated and discussed very dramatically on every news channel makes people forget about the good things that they do have.”

Some experts worry about the trickle-down effect from parents to children. Ralph Catalano, a professor of public health at the University of California, Berkeley, has studied the effects of job loss and economic worries on mental health for 30 years. “I have a suspicion there’s going to be more interfamilial violence, more alcohol-related illness in the population of people who actually lose jobs,” he said.

However, Erika Wight, a Gerard Academy therapist, says, there are things a person can do to manage stress before it becomes overwhelming. “People should try to put things into perspective and understand that the economic crisis won’t last forever,” she said. “Look at the ways that he or she has been successful in the past and apply some of those skills and abilities to the present situation.”

Wight adds that better mental health actually comes down to doing some simple things: “Eating right, getting enough sleep and having a support network are very important. Taking care of yourself becomes more important when you are feeling stressed out. Don’t be afraid to develop new coping skills such as journaling, yoga or enjoying nature.”

Retterath says, “We’ve become a generation that is accustomed to more stuff and craves instant gratification. Not all of this is bad in that it might actually bring more humility and humanity back to society.”

Tovar says it’s a struggle some days to keep himself occupied. “I definitely do more chores around the house now that I’m unemployed, although I am going a little stir crazy,” he said. “But, ultimately, you have to keep your head up and believe that things will get better eventually.”