In the heart of Arkansas, along Route 30, swaths of stores stand shuttered. In the once-thriving northwest pocket of the state, the retail fortress in Bentonville is under siege. Property values from Jonesboro to Magnolia are plummeting. Unemployment is rampant. Jobs are gone.

And the effects of the systemwide meltdown — as dire as portrayed above or not — are stressing people out. A recent national report found that therapists are being sought after with unusual frequency; national demand for counseling increased 40 percent from June to December of last year.

Professionals have observed the same trend in Arkansas.

“Psychologists in private practice that I have spoken with have reported a slight increase in patient loads, but more than that is the fact that many of the patients they see on a regular basis are mentioning financial problems as a significant stressor,” says Dr. Chip Long, a Little Rock psychologist and a member of the American Psychological Association. “One psychologist in private practice stated that her no-show rate has decreased, suggesting that people are placing more value on the therapy sessions and are making more of an effort to make the scheduled visits.”

Furthermore, one in three people interviewed last year for the APA’s annual Stress In America survey categorized their level of stress as “extreme.” Fiscal and economic issues were predominant sources of hand-wringing anxiety for 80 percent of the population nationwide. Job stability counted as an additional stressor for much of the population.

While it is undeniable that some of the region’s key economic indicators are wallowing in a depressed state compared to just a year ago, the news is not all bad. The statewide economy, though it has slowed, is by no means receiving its last rites. Not that it makes much difference when it comes to panic — and the perception of a free fall.

“For many individuals that I have spoken with, the financial stress is exacerbated by the feeling that the current economic issues are beyond their control,” says Long.

During difficult times, it becomes easy to focus on the negative. It can be challenging to realize the situation for what it is.

Local economists and business development officers say that, yes, Arkansas is hurting like the rest of the country. But it is not without some encouraging signs of continued growth.

Steady As It Goes
“What is it about the structure of the Arkansas economy that makes it a little bit different than the national economy?” muses Dr. Kathy Deck of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. “Arkansas has, through the last few recessions, had a bit of a flatter business cycle. That is, we didn’t fully participate in the peaks, and we don’t get as low in the troughs as the rest of the country.”

An economics professor, Deck points to a number of factors that differentiate the state economy from its larger, national cousin.

“When you look at things like overall employment rate, growth rates, housing prices — the specifics for Arkansas have looked more positive than for the national economy as a whole.”

Manufacturing, for one, is more dominant here, comprising about 16 percent of regional jobs as compared to 10 percent nationally. The second factor is something that exists in relative scarcity — high-tech employment. In strained times, the lack of a high-tech industry can become a blessing in disguise. Though Silicon Valley can attest to its potential for rapid profitability, it also bears witness to its finicky nature.

“We don’t get those big booms when tech is flying, but we don’t feel the bust either,” Deck says.

In general, the housing market acts in much the same manner. Joey Dean, vice president of economic development at the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce and director of the Metro Little Rock Alliance, says real estate follows a similarly subdued ebb and flow.

“To a certain degree, housing boomed here, but not to the extent that you see on the coasts,” he says. “When we see housing prices fall here, they’re not falling that far because they never went up extraordinarily high like they did on the East and West coast.”

This middle-ground way of operating is stitched through the fabric of the state’s economy. Its economic fortunes may not be isolated, but they are “somewhat insulated,” says Dean, who points out that Arkansas’ unemployment rate typically runs about a percentage point below the national average.

The latest figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that this trend still rings true. As of December, the state’s unemployment rate stood at 6.2 percent, while the national average clocked in at 7.2 percent.

“We are certainly being affected by the national economy and that economic stress that people across the country are seeing. However, Arkansas’ economic base is extremely diverse. It is not dependent on just one or two sectors,” Dean says.

While there remain positive indicators about the economy as a whole, the recent spate of layoffs, foreclosures and shutdowns is creating a collective state of anxiety, which Long, who works with a predominantly rural population, has witnessed across the range of his profession.

And stress and anxiety can lead to cyclical and detrimental behavior, he says.

“Unfortunately, some individuals utilize unhealthy coping strategies in an attempt to manage many of the negative feelings associated with this issue,” Long says. “One of the difficult issues in this is that many of the people engaging in these types of behaviors feel as though these techniques are effective in managing stress.”

He enumerates a list of behaviors people tend to engage in, coupled with the perception of what these tendencies can cure — some 40 percent of people who smoke, 41 percent of people who gamble, 35 percent of people who shop, and 27 percent of people who drink to manage stress believe that these are effective ways to manage stress.

Long cites statistics from the APA’s study in formulating what he sees as an eventually profitless multiplier effect.

“Consequences of these behaviors are far-reaching and can have long-term negative results, only serving to increase stress in the long run,” he says.

The American Legacy Foundation, for instance, found in a recent study that two-thirds of smokers report that economic stress has influenced their smoking habit. One-quarter disclosed that their smoking consumption has increased, with that number approaching 40 percent for those in low-income households. Meanwhile, some 20 percent of middle-income smokers have put off their attempts to quit.

Feeling the Effects
Some news in Arkansas is indeed bleak. In February, San Antonio Shoe Inc. announced the closing of its manufacturing facility in Conway due to the lagging economy, closing the door on more than 140 workers, after roughly 25 years in that location. In the same month, food retailer Butterball declared the layoff of 150 employees at its facility in Huntsville.

The troubled atmosphere has forced other companies to draw back on their operations. Chesapeake Energy, an Oklahoma City-based natural gas company with wide-scale operations in the Fayetteville Shale, posted an $866 million fourth-quarter loss in 2008, putting its steady stream of production in jeopardy.

The most alarming of the recent fleet of cutbacks occurred at Wal-Mart. The retail leviathan in Bentonville declared earlier in the year that it would lay off up to 800 workers at its headquarters.

“That’s a big hit in confidence to a region that’s used to seeing explosive growth in terms of employment,” Deck says.

What may be most disconcerting is that Wal-Mart is still posting strong returns.

“It’s one of the bright spots when you hear about retail. That a company that is performing relatively well is still laying off people comes as a shock to confidence,” she says.

“Individuals are usually able to manage one or two stressors at a time, but when they start to pile up, and especially if they last for extended periods of time, they can begin to take a toll on a person both physically and psychologically,” Long says. “If the financial problems persist, I would encourage the person to pursue professional support. It is important that those who are struggling with this realize that they do not have to cope with these problems alone. Addressing feelings of depression or anxiety related to these problems can help clear the way for better management of the other aspects of the issue as things move forward.”

An equally effective treatment would be a reversal of the dim predictions about the region. Coursing down this path, some news is heartening.

“We’re certainly not immune to the downturn, but we’re competitively holding our own,” says Scott Hardin of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

The region continues to witness a strong core of business development: Caterpillar, Southwestern Energy Co., and Hewlett-Packard are developing new facilities in central Arkansas. Together, they will create more than 1,800 new jobs.

“Manufacturing is still strong here,” says Dean, who talks with enthusiasm about the four international wind power-related companies that have settled in Arkansas.

However, until the economic resurgence comes, stress likely will remain a part of people’s lives.

The APA’s Dr. Nancy Molitor, who put together a checklist of strategies that people can turn to when facing anxiety, urges awareness as an antidote — over both personal situations and situations one cannot control.

The identification of “financial stressors,” which can range from rising food costs to the need to support a family on a single income, is beneficial for coming to grips with the reality of the circumstances. Outlining a plan on paper can help reduce stress.

In addition, an awareness of how one copes with stress can help him avoid detrimental activities, like excessive drinking and gambling, as well as conflicts between marriage partners. Molitor recommends professional guidance for those exhibiting these behaviors.

Long urges that one maintain his connections with friends and family, which can help allay stress. Looking after one’s own needs by engaging in activities he enjoys can help keep him “primed to deal with stressful situations,” as can the basic, though often difficult, act of keeping things in perspective.

“Try to consider stressful situations in a broader context and keep a long-term perspective,” Long recommends. “Avoid blowing events out of proportion.”

Another word of advice is to take decisive action. That is, to address the causes of stress and not let the situation seem beyond reach. At the very least, it is helpful to remember there is a silver lining in every economic downturn — the cultivation of the next upswing.

“When people say, ‘What is positive about the current downturn?’” says Deck, “You have to say, ‘Well, the seeds of the next boom are always planted during the bust.’”