Coping Strategies for Financial Stress and Well-Being
3 min readMoney stress is not new, as people tend to have their own problems in terms of debt, being penniless, or having no money set aside. This disease can also be aggravated by unexpected costs such as hospitalization or car repair.
High levels of stress impact sleep, relationships and health, and trigger anxiety and depression.
Tell yourself that you’re not alone.
When we are stressed financially, it’s a catastrophic event for relationships, work and physical health. According to research conducted by the American Psychological Association, people who are under financial stress will eat too much, sleep too little, and suffer from damage to the heart and gut.
You can have a powerful effect on your mental and emotional health if you remind yourself that you’re not alone and that it helps you to become in control of your situation. So instead of ducking bills or going overboard on unnecessary things, create a habit to take on each bill individually – and stick with it. Checking expenses, savings accounts, reaching out for help are other fantastic techniques for money management to ease the burden and take control.
Take a break.
It can result in significant harm to your mental and physical health, chronic illnesses that need costly treatments, all while stressing you out even more and adding stress to an already-tense situation.
A solution to this problem is taking time out from the worry of money and focusing on what you love. Families, friends, dogs and cats. That’s how you will focus on the good, which will lead to an increase in mood and energy.
You can also spend some time organizing and budgeting your money-this is very helpful! Furthermore, consulting a counselor or therapist might calm you down as they provide the resources to learn healthy methods of dealing with money issues and how to adapt.
Do something you enjoy.
Financial stress can happen even to someone who has stable income, excellent credit and a healthy savings account, but they can lessen it by spending time regularly monitoring their finances and making adjustments to boost their income.
Fontes suggests this can involve exploring lower prices or exploring different mortgage and car loan rates; such activities help people feel in control and can alleviate stress.
People should seek assistance if they feel they cannot cope on their own. Stress and anxiety about money can often cause relationship difficulties; money often tops the list when couples argue. Furthermore, this worry can contribute to sleep disturbances, alter appetite and lead to social isolation; which may harm health in the long run.
Ask for help.
Financial anxiety corrodes everything from relationships to headaches, high blood pressure and gastrointestinal issues.
Money stress also can keep individuals from taking part in activities that promote wellbeing and health, such as physical activity and a healthy diet, leaving them feeling tired and unproductive at work. It may lead to poor energy efficiency or reduced productivity in work.
Debt counseling and debt management can provide families with a roadmap for getting out of debt, which reduces stress. They can also be helped by friends and family, offering emotional and practical support (like food preparation or childcare, should they require it). In addition, studies show that close social connections can support a family’s resilience to economic stress (Tobe et al. 2016).
Seek out support.
– Often, as part of an appropriate coping mechanism, people are there to help. It can include reaching out to friends or family for support, or looking to professional help – whether that’s debt counseling, money management tips or psychotherapy for depression and anxiety stemming from economic stress – seeking professional help should not be taken as weakness, but rather as a wise investment in wellbeing.
In times of financial pressure, irritability and emotional instability can break relationships as stressed individuals lose their ability to listen when it comes time to discuss savings and spending priorities or plans. It might be beneficial to seek out advice from a financial counselor or therapist.