Financial stress is one of the leading causes of stress in Americans. The mental and physical effects of dealing with, and worrying about money problems are very real, and can be extensive.  Even people who normally have very good coping skills can suffer the ill effects brought on by worrying about money, debt problems, and loss of income.

The residual damage brought on by the Great Recession continues to be a leading cause of financial stress. In a recent poll, 90% of those asked said they were stressed about finances. This is significant because financial stress is linked to health problems like depression, lack of sleep, and a host of physical and mental ailments. Anxiety about personal finances can negatively affect health and life in general in many ways. It pushes people toward unhealthy, self-medicating behaviors.

People experiencing financial stress are more likely to drink alcohol, smoke, overeat and practice other unhealthy coping behaviors. These behaviors can then lead to more physical, mental and financial problems.

With less money in the family budget many people will stop going to the Doctor and Dentist.  Small problems can go unchecked and turn into larger health issues costing lots of money to repair. It's like not changing the oil in your car because it costs money, but we know what happens to a car if the oil is not changed regularly.

Loss of Sleep is very common for people under financial stress which adds up to a sleep deficit. A sleep deficit takes its toll on the immune system and cognitive abilities, causing moodiness, temper flares and potential accidents.

People can experience anxiety, frustration and a sense of hopelessness as they face a pile of debt. They feel they've lost control of their lives and the future seems very uncertain.

Here are some key tactics for easing the financial stress you might be feeling and ways to better deal with money issues that may be keeping you up at night and, literally, are making you sick.

-Know that you are not alone. While you may be dealing with your financial situation by yourself, you are not the first and only person who has ever faced similar challenges. In fact, there are thousands of people and families who are facing much worse debt than you are.

-Shake the shame. There are a number of Social Service programs and organizations available to provide some assistance and you should not feel too proud to avail yourself of these services. After all, they were created to help people in your situation and you've most likely contributed to them when you've paid taxes. So, use the help to help ease your stress.

-It's just simple Math. Financial issues are just mathematical problems to be solved using a budget and a Corrective Action Plan (CAP). To simplify the obvious, if there was more income and fewer expenses, the financial problems would be gone. So, rather than worrying, let's keep it simple and look for ways to solve the math problem, unemotionally, and in a businesslike fashion.  Many Bank CEO's likely lost some sleep over the past two years, but, they also approached their Bank's financial problems in a businesslike fashion looking for solutions.

Similarly, people can lessen their feelings of anxiety and fear of the unknown by assuming control of their finances by writing them down on paper. By getting your financials in black and white, just like businesses do, there is less left to the imagination and the facts and figures will help you find solutions to the problem.

-Don't give up. Too many people look at the numbers and throw up their hands in surrender. While the numbers may not tell a happy story now, they do show where changes need to be made and provide a framework for you to work towards a solution. Again, the less left to the mind to play games with, the better you'll sleep at night and the better you will ultimately feel.

Take Action! Deal with your financial issues then put them aside and enjoy the rest of your life. Financial problems are business transactions that can make you sick if you let them.