If you’ve ever wondered how finances contribute to stress, you’re not alone. Financial worries affect our mental and physical health, affecting everything from our energy levels to our relationships. They can even increase our risk for depression and anxiety. If this isn’t enough to make you feel miserable, financial problems can cause us to develop unhealthy coping mechanisms and even suicidal thoughts. So how do we cope with this stress? Read on to discover some helpful tips.
Financial stress affects mental and physical health
If you’re struggling to make ends meet, financial stress can negatively impact your mental and physical health. There are many solutions to alleviate financial stress, including tightening your budget, seeking government benefits, declaring bankruptcy, and finding another job. However, chronic financial stress can be a major problem that’s rooted in structural inequities. Unfortunately, a growing number of people are struggling to make ends meet while working.
Financial stress is one of the most common sources of emotional tension. This type of stress is especially common in households with limited incomes. It’s easy to get caught up in money-related issues when you’re not making enough money to pay the bills and buy groceries. However, for people with lower incomes, financial problems may even be caused by their jobs, which can be unsatisfactory or offer little flexibility. People may be frightened to quit their jobs because they don’t have enough money to pay the bills.
It can damage relationships
In a recent Harris Poll, almost half of American adults cited money as one of the top three causes of stress and relationship breakdowns. Money was the top contributor to relationship breakdowns for both young and old people, and it was twice as prominent among younger people. Housing prices and student loan debt have skyrocketed in recent decades, and the pressures of managing finances can cause stress in even the most stable relationship.
The fact is that money plays a large role in relationships and can be a source of conflict. Unfortunately, few people feel comfortable discussing their finances openly. It’s not enough that both parties are aware of the financial issues that are causing the trouble, though. Money problems can be extremely stressful, and are often the biggest cause of conflict between partners. In fact, one-third of American couples are stressed over finances.
It can cause overeating
Overeating may be one of the most common signs that you’re suffering from financial strain. Not only is it unhealthy, but it can also lead to serious health problems, including heart attacks, migraines, and muscle tension. Stress and money worries can make it difficult to find the self-care you need. Stress can also lead to overeating, or binge eating. Stress can even affect your weight. When your finances are out of control, you might feel more hungry than usual.
It can lead to complex trauma
If finances contribute to stress, it may be due to past financial trauma. Even though financial trauma does not have to be related to money, it can impact the way we view money and make financial decisions. Financial trauma is associated with intense memories and delayed trauma responses, such as a heightened anxiety about financial matters and nightmares. Survivors of financial trauma may also develop symptoms of traditional trauma, including depression, anxiety, and fatigue.
If you or someone you love suffers from financial trauma, there is a high chance that it will impact your intimate relationships. The stress caused by finances will sap the joy of sharing and being open in personal relationships. As a result, financial PTSD sufferers are irritable, angry, and nasty. This type of stress can cause you to become distant from those you love. You may even experience a breakdown in your relationship, resulting in complicated trauma.