The Boston Globe is reporting that psychologists have developed a new diagnosis — "sudden loss sydrome" that is a kind of bookend to "affluenza," a label that surfaced in the late 1980s to describe emotional disorders associated with sudden acquisition of wealth.

"I think we are in the midst of a period of the fastest wealth destruction that we've seen in at least two decades," said Robert Rank, author of "Richistan," a look at the boom in the number of wealthy people in the United States in recent years.

Financial analysts here and elsewhere are at a loss to explain things but say that as the housing and Internet bubbles burst, the result appears to be the surest evidence of trickle-down economics on record.

Hatch said despite things seeming out of control — very important factors in a person's sense of well-being — now would be a good time to consider doing what VMH suggests for a week each spring: Turn off the TV.

"At least don't watch it as much if you can," Hatch said. "These are deep concerns people have, but, as usual, there is little other than more stress that comes of worrying about what's going to happen."

In a way, people should take heart that pretty much everyone is in the same boat, he said, and adding personal energy to fears and anxiety running rampant just amps up the anxiety and probably deepens a sense of dread.

He and other counselors said focusing on the fear of what might happen doesn't alter what's going to happen, whatever the personal, societal and even financial context happens to be.

"The best thing is to remain aware, but don't get carried away borrowing trouble," Hatch said.

Spend time doing the things that you can become personally engaged in, he said, noting that it's during the so-called down times that people tend to think about and even list what they are truly grateful for.

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E-mail: jthalman@desnews.com