Recession Stress Means Less Business in Bed

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tight finances can lead to tension in the bedroom for many couples.

Financial worries and unemployment can easily lead to chronic stress.

We feel it in our head, neck and shoulders. Doctors call it the physical and emotional response to stress and that's exactly what people in the metro are dealing with in this recession.

"Things are getting bleak now,” says Gerry Tangney. “I've gone through my savings. I've gone through my reserve,"

One Thing Leads to Another

Tangney lost his job 18 months ago.

"I guess I can say the recession has made my love life recede," Tangney said. "The romance part of it has pretty much almost disappeared. It's just a lot of stress a lot of tension."

Karen Harrison is a licensed sex therapist. She says the recession is sending more couples to her office.

"They're fighting more and they're having less sex," Harrison said.

She adds even though people are losing hours at work or even losing their jobs and have more time to have sex, they’re generally not.

Which Leads To...

She adds even though people are losing hours at work or even losing their jobs and have more time to have sex, they’re generally not.

Harrison says that is leading some to turn to other sources.

"So that may be causing people to turn to more porn for sexual relief," she said.

In the midst of a recession, the sex industry is up and down.

More online shoppers are embracing the discretion of cheaper flicks on the internet, while some adult video stores are seeing a slight decrease in sales.

What About Singles?

Experts say while couples are having less sex, singles are having it more, and more recklessly.

"We're definitely seeing an increase in people seeking STD screening services, and increased rate of people testing positive for STDs," said Brooke Patterson, with the Kansas City Free Health Clinic.

Patterson says they've seen more patients who admit to risky sexual behavior.

"Sex is something people always do in times of stress, to relief stress and it's free. Doesn't cost money," said Patterson.

Meanwhile, Harrison encourages her couples to embrace the same tactic to ward off stress, instead of taking the anxiety out on one another.

Sex Instead of Stress

Meanwhile, Harrison encourages her couples to embrace the same tactic to ward off stress, instead of taking the anxiety out on one another.

Harrison teaches them to touch and talk in a loving way.

"When people are short on money, they don't go on dates anymore, they don't romance each other,” Harrison said. “While that may work ok for the man, most women want to feel that source of connection.”

She says sex can relieve the symptoms of stress, including headaches, body aches, high blood pressure, a suppressed immune system and the inability to sleep.

Watch for These Indications of Stress

• Headaches
• Body Aches
• High Blood Pressure
• Supressed Immune System
• Inability to Sleep
• Click Here for Simple Daily Solutions to Stress

Massage Becoming a Popular Therapy

In addition to sex therapy, massage therapy is also seeing a boom in business.

"The number one request is stress relief,” says Jennifer Milliron. “Obviously with the economy the way that it is, a lot of people are loosing their jobs, life is just very very stressful."

Milliron, a clinical administrator for Massage Envy in Overland Park, says they've treated even more people during the recession.

Her clients are looking for stress relief without the costly doctor bills.

"Our focus is the medical therapeutic aspect of massage," said Milliron. "It just increases circulation. The relaxing aspect, it's really amazing, just getting your body to choose to relax can affect your mood.”

Milliron says insurance companies will often cover the cost of massage therapy, as a form of preventative health care, for both the physical and mental relief it brings.

"We want you to feel relaxed, we want you to feel pain free,,” Milliron said. “But we want you to walk out of here with less pain, and headache free."

It's those headaches that have proven to be an age old excuse when it comes to sex.

It is an excuse Tangney hopes to eliminate by tackling the stress the recession is putting on his relationship.

"My desire is still there as much as it's ever been,” Tangney said. “I'm hoping that once things turn around and I have a job, things are looking rosy again, things will start picking up in the bedroom.”