Did you know that feeling overwhelmed by the stressors and pressures of modern life can lead to depression? Put simply, one stressful event after another - losing your job, worrying about a sick loved one, moving and leaving behind a strong social network - can accumulate and trigger depression. In fact, depression is one of the most common responses to adversity. I sat down with psychiatrist Dr. Charles Raison, from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, to get more information about the stress-depression connection and to find out what we can do about it.

1) Warning signs. Often, the first signs of depression brought on by a stressful lifestyle manifest themselves physically. Here is a list of warning signs that might surprise you: sleep issues (either trouble sleeping or sleeping too much), experiencing aches and pains, getting sick often, loss of appetite and problems going to the bathroom. Some people say they feel worried all of the time or are constantly exhausted.

2) Don't hesitate. Raison strongly recommends that people seek treatment right away because – generally speaking - the sooner the treatment, the better the outcome. In essence, depression is a disorder in which there is too much activity in brain and body pathways that release a lot of "hot" chemicals - chemicals that are very good for helping us survive a stressful situation, but damage our bodies and minds if we are constantly exposed to them because of continued stress.

3) What's best for you? Traditional treatment generally falls into two categories: medication, such as anti-depressants, and talk therapy. Some patients take anti-depressants only, some take these medicines in conjunction with talk therapy and some undergo talk therapy without drugs.

4) Get healthy. Making healthy lifestyle choices has also been shown to provide relief for depression and is often used in addition to the traditional therapies. In fact getting healthy is one of the best ways to prevent depression as well. Raison advises his patients to: get regular exercise, follow a healthy diet, not smoke, drink alcohol in moderation (if you do drink) and, most importantly, keep stress to a minimum. The benefits of exercise have shown promise in recent studies, as has daily meditation.

And finally, Dr. Raison encourages people to stay socially connected. Spending time with friends and loved ones can help cushion the effects of stress and play a role in keeping us on track so that modern day stressors don’t trigger depression.

Health Minute airs daily on HLN from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET weekdays.

HELP ME CLARK!
From HLN's Money Expert Clark Howard

RYAN:

My lawyer accidently gave my social security number to a family member I cannot trust. This person also knows my birth date, address, employer etc. What is the best plan to "cover all my bases" and be sure that this information isn’t used to open new credit cards or loans without my knowledge? Thanks

CLARK:

Ryan, if I ever knew somebody who was made-to-order for doing a credit freeze, you are the one.

With a credit freeze, all this information in the hands of your relative does them no good to open accounts in your name.

What you do is, you put in to place a freeze with Equifax, Transunion and Experian and once you have those freezes in place, and depending on the state and your situation, it's from zero dollars to ten dollars to put a credit freeze in place.

Once you put those in place you don't have to worry anymore, because each bureau assigns you a secret code that's even different for each bureau.

So if this relative you don't trust goes to open a new credit card or whatever, and they don't know your secret code they're shut down cold.

FOR MORE ADVICE FROM CLARK VISIT CNN.COM/CLARKHOWARD

Clark Behind The Headlines
From HLN's Money Expert Clark Howard

There are times when companies mess up. It's not so much a test of who's perfect and who's not. It's more of a question of how do you handle it when you have messed up. People understand when you say, "I made a mistake and here is what we’re doing to make sure it never happens again."

There's a story about Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and they messed up big time! The Kansas City Star broke this story that Enterprise was buying cars as a fleet purchaser from General Motors. And in order to save money, they were buying cars with side airbags deleted from the car because they were not mandated by law. The only ones that are required are the front airbags.

Enterprise worked out a deal with General Motors to delete the side airbags in return for a lower price on the cars. They did this for three years and it saved the company almost $12 million. They were still within the law until they did something else. Enterprise went on to sell the cars but they didn't disclose that they had deleted the airbags.

According to industry studies, having side airbags reduces highway deaths by 45% among drivers in cars that are hit on the driver's side. So when you get into the cost benefit analysis, this is life-threatening for people who bought these cars.

Now this is where I think the story becomes really important. Any company can make a decision to make their cars less safe. That's their judgment and their decision. Not telling people when they went to buy the cars was wrong.

But you have to give Enterprise credit, and this is the nuance that has been missing in America. They found every person they sold one to, and plans to send them letters saying they’ll buy the cars back regardless of condition, at above market value. They owned up to it. They're making amends.

So remembering that we all do make mistakes, what you do afterward is really the heart of it. It's probably good for your wallet too, no matter what lawyers will tell you about never saying you're sorry and never admitting the truth.

HELP ME CLARK

PADI:

I am curious as to the financial soundness of using the "we buy any house fast" companies to sell my house. I've been trying to sell my condo for 10 months with no offers. I got new carpet installed, I painted, I dropped the asking price to cover my pay-off amount and fees only, and still nothing. What do those companies typically offer and will working with them harm me in some other way? Thanks!

CLARK:

Selling a condo? Tough, tough deal in this real estate market. Even harder than selling a house.

Here's the deal. Any of those companies that might have a sign on a freeway exit, you might see something on the internet, their deal is they are going to offer you a low ball price for your house.

You create an opportunity for them, solve a problem for you.

Now if you have the house already at a very aggressive price and no offers? I’ve got to tell you, likely the offer that somebody who says "we buy any house" is not going to be that generous to cover even what you're already asking.

Doesn't hurt to ask them, at least then you'll know what the absolute low, low ball offer is that would sell your house.

FOR MORE ADVICE FROM CLARK VISIT CNN.COM/CLARKHOWARD

Money Coach Diaries with HLN's Money Expert Clark Howard
This week's question comes from Dan and Heather Sostrom of Gainesville, Florida.

Heather:

I think we have pretty good financial instincts but we're not always sure if we are making the right decisions. Some of our goals are to retire early and to save for college for our son.

Dan:

I'm 33 right now and ideally, I'd love to retire at age 50. But right now, I'm not sure if that would be possible… we're maxing out our Roth IRAs and have additional IRAs on top of that… but would it make better sense to save in some mutual funds outside of an IRA so we could access that money before we retire? What other avenues of investing are going to be smarter for us to be able access that money?

Heather:

We just need the advice of someone seasoned, who's in the know. Because right now, I feel like we are a pretty young and naive with investing and we're just putting all of our eggs in these various baskets, not really sure if we are making the right decisions…I honestly don't know if we are doing enough.

Having trouble managing money? Do your money goals seem impossible? Clark Howard wants to help you! We're looking for individuals or families who are willing to be profiled on HLN . Those chosen will get money advice and information from Clark Howard.

Are the best days of this country behind it? By the looks of the projected budget deficit numbers, your government is spending like crazy to make sure that is not the case. The White House projects a budget deficit totaling more than $9 trillion dollars (that's 12 zeros) over the next ten years.

The math is pretty simple. Government spending is skyrocketing and government tax revenue is plummeting. That equals red ink. The calculus here is that investments and spending in the economy today will nurture an economic recovery that will grow tax receipts in the future.

Fiscal conservatives fear mountains of debt on our children, an unhealthy reliance of foreign governments to buy our debt and finance our spending, a growing portion of the nation's wealth going toward interest payments rather than investment, a weak dollar and hyperinflation down the road.

The president's supporters say a whole series of crises was foisted on him, and he has no choice but to spend big to make sure American living standards grow in the future. (Think energy, health care, banking regulation, consumer protection...) In his announcement of his re-appointment of Fed Chief Ben Bernanke, he hailed a strategy of "bold, persistent, experimentation." It's a phrase first used by FDR in 1932, when he promised to try, and abandon, and try again, whatever it took to rescue the American economy. It shows how high the stakes remain today.

At what price? You can see for yourself on a telling chart provided on homepage of the Congressional Budget Office. A chart there shows the size of the budget deficit in relation to the overall economy. (It's approaching 12 percent of GDP, the largest since World War II.)

The CBO says the deficits reflect all the measures to rescue the economy, including bailouts of banks and lenders and automakers. So where's YOUR bailout? Cash For Clunkers is over, so no more free money for you there. (And, might I add, you had to take on a new car payment and probably extra insurance, so it's not so free after all.)

Plans are under way for a sort of Cash for Appliances stimulus program. You might not have noticed, but there is a tax break in your paycheck, if you don't already make too much money. And if you didn't have a clunker to junk, you can still write off the state, local and excise taxes for a new car (up to $49,500) on your 2009 tax return. and don't forget the piece de la resistance - the $8,000 credit for first-time homebuyers (under a certain income limit, of course) is good until the end of the year.

Which brings me back to the original question: Are the best days of this country behind it? I want to hear your thoughts, and answer your questions about America's great financial experiment. Do you think American living standards will continue to rise? Why or why not? In what ways are you benefiting from all the bailouts and stimulus?

Tell us what you think. Email me at CNNRadio@CNN.com. Then call in on Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET at 877-266-4189. I'll answer your questions on health care when I fill in for Ali Velshi this week and next week on the Ali Velshi show on CNN Radio and CNN.com.

HELP ME CLARK!
From HLN's Money Expert Clark Howard

ROGER:

Is it safe to give the 3-digit security code on the back of credit cards when placing an order online? I was always informed of never give that code out. In reading the statement of why the code is needed, it is to verify the card is in your hand. If the card was stolen the thief would have the card in hand to give the code if ordering online. Thank you for your assistance.

CLARK:

You're absolutely right. But the purpose of the three-digit code on the back, is many times a criminal may be able to steal your 16-digit number but they won't know the secret code. It's just an additional possible way for a merchant to protect himself or herself from fraud. It is not something that puts you at risk giving that number, if you're dealing with a reputable merchant. If you ever give the number out and you're worried later, that you think you might have given it to somebody who's not A-okay, well at that point you should call your credit card company and they can check to see if any weirdo activity is taking place.

FOR MORE ADVICE FROM CLARK VISIT CNN.COM/CLARKHOWARD

HELP ME CLARK!
Mortgage Trouble

From HLN’s Money Expert Clark Howard

SUE:

My son has an excellent credit rating. His house has been for sale for a year now and he is struggling to make payments.

If he gets the mortgage company to agree to a deed in lieu of foreclosure, will this impact his credit score?

CLARK:

Yes, it will hurt his credit. It won't hurt as much as a foreclosure, but the way a deed in lieu of foreclosure tends to be reported by lenders will cause him some harm.

But there's something that will cause more harm than that. And that is if the lender tries to get you  to sign a promissory note. Make sure that your son looks thoroughly through the papers that are given to him and makes sure he's not being hit with a promissory note, which is his promise to pay the lender some amount of money against the losses they're taking by doing a deed in lieu.

From HLN's Money Expert Clark Howard

There's something you and I have done again and again, and that is slamming too many calories in our mouths. As Americans, we spend a bigger percentage of our nation's wealth on health care than any other country.

We've had health care debates going on most of the year and we're asking, "What's Washington going to do?" Nobody's talking about what you and I need to do for ourselves, which is to manage our own health and wellness.

I remember five years ago where everybody was beating up McDonald's about what their food was doing to people, and McDonald's realized they were never going to win that battle so they changed their Happy Meals (offered for children).

Now if you go into McDonald's, you have a variety of healthy snacks to choose from for your kids. You can still get the toy but you also have healthier options.

Well, I have seen only a few parents select a healthy snack for his or her child. The point I'm trying to make is that we have choices.

Today, nearly 20 percent of kids in elementary school are overweight. And if you look at the teenage crowd, it's virtually the same number.

A report from the San Francisco Chronicle says obesity cost us $147 billion last year and killed more than 100,000 Americans. Because of obesity, the U.S. life expectancy is shortening for the first time since the bloodletting of the Civil War in 1861-1865.

We can debate all day long about health care, but with your own life, set a direction for your health. When was the last time you worked out? When did you get your kids out walking?

It's the combination of how we eat, how much we eat and how much or little we exercise that has such an impact on our health.

I don't care where you fit politically. I don't care what your position is on health care. But what I want you to think about is what you're going to do about your health and your family's health.

Tune in to Clark Howard Saturdays and Sundays at noon and 4 p.m. ET on HLN

HELP ME CLARK!
From HLN's Money Expert Clark Howard

STEPHEN:

The heating system and air conditioning in my house is 21 years old. A contractor has told me that I can spend $5,700 on a new gas furnace that will be 90% efficient and a heat pump that will be 15 seer. This will qualify me for the $1,500 tax credit for energy savings. Is it worthwhile for me to make this investment?

CLARK:

If you plan to stay in your house for a lengthy period of time, it will pay off for you right now with the bonus of the tax credit. And it will definitely pay off for you over the long haul in what you'll save on energy in winter and summer.

But you have to patient, because it is "eventually". You're not going to make this money back in two or three years. Depending on the climate where you live and the relative cost versus the energy bills you're paying now, it could be a 10-year payback.

If you want to get a feel for that, go to energystar.gov and look at their calculators to see if the payback is a reasonable period for the length you plan to own your home.

Tune in to Clark Howard Saturdays and Sundays at noon and 4 p.m. ET on HLN