You wake up feeling under the weather — a little achy, sore throat, stuffy, even a fever — the usual flu-like symptoms.  Question: do you go back under the covers or drag yourself into the office?  Public health officials are betting you’ll do the latter, thereby putting yourself and — more importantly for them — your coworkers, neighbors, even the entire country at risk, as we approach swine flu season. Yes, it’s coming and it’s got us wondering, ‘why can’t Americans stay home when they are sick?’ ...(continue reading).

From acetaminophen to gargling with salt water, most people we know will do anything to recover from being sick... except skip a day of work. But this attitude won't jibe with the H1N1 virus: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are recommending that Americans who catch swine flu take at least 3-5 days off of work to prevent the illness from spreading. Even the thought of one hour of isolation from our cubicles gives us the jitters, so today, we're sitting down with clinical psychologist Robin Kerner to try to understand exactly why it is that Americans have such a hard time just staying home.

Need additional proof that Americans just don't vacation? Read Why we don't vacation like the French in the American Prospect, Please don't make me go on vacation in the New York Times, and Money vs. Time Off: Why we don't take vacations from The Digerati Life.

Read Robin Kerner's blog post

 

Tough economic times aren’t just hitting us in the pocket, they’re hitting many of us in the head as well. Last week Pam Belluck from the New York Times reported on the heightened psychological anxiety many people are experiencing due to the economy— a phenomenon we're calling Recession Depression. But once you start worrying about the economy, what can you do to stop? For some advice on how to cope with psychological stress brought on by the economic downturn, The Takeaway talks to Dr. Robin Kerner, a clinical psychologist at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City.

For more, read Pam Belluck's article, Recession Anxiety Seeps Into Everyday Lives in the New York Times.

Also, check out the government's website, Getting Through Tough Economic Times for more information on the signs of recession depression and where to get help.

Read Dr. Kerner's notes from the segment.