I"ll just try and remain calm and keep a level head."

Ann Ridge says that's her best defense to ease her economic fears .. but many other local residents are not as calm and turning to psychologists to help.

Vicki Tronc of Swedish American Hospital.. says her phone has been ringing off the hook .

" A lot more people have been calling and are experiencing the fallout of the economy and the breakdown of Wall Street" says Vicki Tronc.

From losing their jobs to not being able to pay their mortgages.. Vicki says many are already losing hope and starting to panic.

"Some people are struggling just to make their house payments.. pay their gas bill and just in general not being able to do the things they used to do".

One of the way many of us deal with the fear of the unknown is to enter into denial.

" They go out and spend more money abuse more substances trying to deny whats going on and that's not a good coping strategy"

People need to be realistic understanding what they can and can't control".

So what's the best way to weather this storm?

Hunker down prioritize look at what your spending and try to get a new budget for yourself.

In Rockford, Kristin Burke 23 News Right Now.