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Is There a Cure for Affluenza?

by Barbara Reinhold

In their new book, Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic, John DeGraaf, David Wann and Thomas Naylor have created a stunning definition of this modern affliction. They define affluenza as "a painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety and waste, resulting from the dogged pursuit of more." Does that sound familiar?

The authors provide 236 pages of antidotes, but here are the five that most people I know seem to be considering:

1. Take 10 from the Top.

Just decide to spend 10 percent less this year. Identify those activities worth 10 percent of your expenditures that give you the least pleasure. Then, next year go after another 10 percent. You won't believe the sense of satisfaction (and ability to pay down your debt) that this simple exercise yields.

2. Go to School.

Whether it's for credit or fun, fill at least one night each week when you're usually tempted to spend money taking a class or self-improvement course, either in person or online. Learning boosts your immune system and reduces the likelihood you'll be consuming.

3. Do Something in the Community.

Whether it's your church, Little League, Habitat for Humanity or some other group, get out and do something for others. Research shows that altruism not only boosts your immune capability, it also decreases stress and gives you a greater sense of control in your life.

4. Move Your Body.

Walk, dance, run, lift weights, even clean the house or mow the lawn. Do anything to move your frame through space. It gobbles calories and makes you feel much more energized than lying around or riding in a vehicle ever could.

5. Get Out.

Enjoy the great outdoors. There is absolutely nothing more likely to restore your spirit than being outside, experiencing the sounds, textures and colors of nature. According to the authors, feedback from thousands of wilderness trip participants revealed that more than 90 percent of them experienced an increased sense of well being and more energy, as well as the ability to kick an addictive habit they were wrestling with.

Of course, the choice is yours. Stay stuck in your affluenza, collecting anesthetizing "stuff" and letting your energy drip away, reinforced by the fact that many of your friends are doing it, too. Or, put some real spice in your life, the natural kind of well-being and exuberance that comes from all of these five natural magic bullets.

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