Lee County is one of the most economically stressed counties in the nation. It's number 20 on the Associated Press's list of 3,100 counties. The stress index accounts for the unemployment rate, number of foreclosures and the rate of bankruptcy.

Lee County scores at 21.19 with unemployment nearly 14%. Collier County's stress index is just over 17 their unemployment hitting at 13%. Charlotte County is doing a little better at 16.85, but still has a 12.% unemployment rate.

To give you a little perspective, Imperial County, California is the most stressed in the country. Their score is 33.5. The average county got about a 6, so there's a lot more stress here.

Lee County is not only stressed economically. Those who have been searching for work month after month, with no success, are becoming stressed physically and mentally.

56 year old Gail Desmond has 30 years of hotel management experience and an iron will. "There is nothing I can't do if I put my mind to it," Desmond said.

What she doesn't have is a job. But it's not from lack of effort. She's applied for everything from restaurant to factory jobs. "Minimum wage? I haven't made minimum wage in probably 25,30 years. Would I do it? Yes, I would, and if I have to work 10, 12, 16 hours a day and if I could hold myself up to do it, there again, i'd do it," Desmond said.

At this point, Desmond says it's all about survival. She's even taking anti-depressants so she can sleep at night. According to Myrna Molinari, the Salvation Army's Clinical Programs Manager, she's not alone. They're seeing a rise in anxiety, depression, high blood pressure and heart problems all due to job stress.

"They are falling apart because they aren't able to get the kind of jobs they had before. They anticipated oh, I'll just go out and get a job and do that and what they are finding is they can't even get in the door because there are so many applicants," Molinari said.

Such was the case for the thousands who lined up to apply at The Resort at Marina Village back in September. It opened today, and Tiffany Blankenship was one of the few to be hired. But she won't soon forget the stress and uncertainly of how it felt to be jobless.

"I know a lot of people are scared," Blankenship said. "I just have faith it'll come back around."