Coping with Financial Stress

If you’ve ever been in debt, you probably know what financial stress feels like. Stress is the release of hormones like cortisol and adrenaline into the bloodstream to help you cope in physically or emotionally demanding situations, or when you feel threatened. In small bursts, it is helpful, such as when you are on a time crunch for a project because it allows you to focus on what you need to do. That concentration, burst of energy and added strength can also be helpful if you face a crisis. Your heart will race and your muscles will often tense up during times of stress. Stress is a means to help your body in short bursts.

What Is Financial Stress?

With finances and especially with debt, stress isn’t just a short burst. It is a constant feeling of dread and worry, which impacts the wellness of your mind and body.

Constant stress can negatively affect your physical and mental health. Pain in the shoulders, neck and back, as well as headaches, can all be effects of stress. Many people also experience digestive and stomach issues during prolonged periods of stress. Think about in the movies when how people working stressful jobs are seen eating Tums or other antacids and are diagnosed with stomach ulcers.

Sleep is also negatively affected by too much stress. That feeling of not being able to turn your brain off at night because of so much worry can lead to a lack of sleep, which can not only affect your body, it can also harm your brain.

Physical Effects of Stress

• Headaches
• Muscle pain
• Digestive issues (stomach pains, heartburn, ulcers, constipation, diarrhea)
• Insomnia
• High blood pressure
• High blood sugar

When you are stressed and your body doesn’t feel well, it can cause twice as much of an impact on your mind. Continued stress causes the inability to concentrate on tasks, greater irritability, inability to control emotions like anger and sadness, increased anxiety and restlessness. These feelings can lead to negative behaviors like smoking, drinking, overeating and can also lead to depression.

Mental Effects of Stress

• Inability to concentrate
• Increased irritability
• Inability to control emotions like anger and sadness
• Panic attacks
• Increased anxiety
• Restlessness
• Dependency on alcohol, drugs, etc.
• Depression

All these symptoms can lead to problems at home and work. Finances are a major factor for stress and divorce within a marriage. A study from the University of Wisconsin found that while money isn’t one of the top subjects of common arguments, it is one of the most complicated for couples to discuss and solve. It’s important to be open with your loved ones when financial problems arise.

This includes your children, who can become confused when they can’t do things they might be used to doing or can’t go places with their friends. They might not understand what it means to be in debt, so simply explain to them some things are too expensive right now, and offer some fun, free options of things to do instead.

Make sure to also keep your financial stressors out of your workplace. Make sure debt collectors aren’t contacting you at your work or during work hours. According to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a collector must honor any request if you say you do not wish to be contacted when you are at work. This can help you concentrate on work and not on avoiding calls.

Read: The Psychology of Spending Money

How to Overcome Financial Stress

There are multiple ways to help cope with stress and manage your financial stress.

1. The first step is to take stock of where you are with regards to your finances and general wellness.
2. Gather up your bills and debts and try to create a budget, cutting out nonessentials or even bills that can be postponed or lessened.
3. Next, think carefully about your physical and mental health.
   1. How are you feeling? Think about where the issues in your body are.
   2. What are you eating? Try to be conscious about how much you eat and what you eat. A poor diet can contribute to additional health issues.
   3. Are you exercising? Take a walk or run to clear your head. Even just spending some time outside can be good for your health.

If you don’t feel like yourself or even think there is the possibility you may be depressed, seek professional help immediately. It is important that you take the right steps to lessen your stress levels, otherwise you’ll never be able to take steps to get your finances under control.

Improving your mental and physical wellbeing is the most important step to achieving your financial wellness goals. Once you are in the right space, you can start to think about solutions.

If managing your finances on your own seems too daunting, try enlisting the help of a professional. Certified Financial Planners and other debt management specialists can help you create a budget to pay off your debts and find a way to build up your savings. Once you are managing your financial stress, it will be much easier to handle the other stressors that come your way.

Money is the second most common cause of stress in the country, according to a 2017 poll by the American Psychological Association. With 62 percent of the nation affected by financial stress, it is only outnumbered by stress over the future of our nation (63 percent).

Financial Stress Statistics

You’re not alone when it comes to stress over money and debt. The APA’s recent survey on stress found that one-quarter of Americans are stressed about their ability to pay for essentials.