Financial Stress May Affect Your Health

Debt-related problems cause a storm of unwanted stresses in your life; collection calls, letters, day-to-day concerns about simply getting by. Some may feel like it’s enough to make you sick . . . and they may be right. 

Effects of Financial Stress

Like any kind of stress, financial stress takes a toll on a person’s overall wellbeing. Even if other aspects of your life are going reasonably well, some may feel as though they’re living with an underlying fear of financial crisis. This worry can build up over time and begin to affect some individuals physically.

Some people going through money problems may feel as though they need to pretend everything is fine and present a strong, carefree front to friends, family and co-workers. This type of daily deception can lead to even more stress and can alienate the person from possible sources of moral support and help.

Stress can cause a variety of physical symptoms, including: 

•  fatigue;
• headaches;
• heart palpitations;
• high blood pressure;
• irritability; and
• sleep disturbances.

In the long-term, stress can cause or worsen heart disease, diabetes, ongoing gastrointestinal issues, clinical depression, and accelerated aging.

What You Can Do

Of course, worrying about the health effects of financial stress may lead to more stress, so what can you do? Seeking the advice of a bankruptcy attorney is a good place to start. You can also seek out reputable credit counseling and financial services.  Just talking about your financial problems and hearing about your options can begin to take some of the burden off.

Take care of your health by eating well, resting and even trying some relaxation exercises to help slow down the stress chemicals and put you in a better state of mind. Seek professional help from a doctor and/or a therapist if you find that your worry or physical symptoms are not going away.