Staying Physically fit while dealing with Fiscal problems

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/or loss of income.

The recession has brought on very high stress levels to a greater number of Americans. Recent polls indicate that only 10% of those asked said they were NOT stressed about finances - meaning 90% have some level of financial stress. 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 in many ways:

It pushes people toward unhealthy, self-medicating behaviors.  People experiencing financial stress are more likely to try to drink alcohol, smoke, overeat and practicing 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 can add up to a sleep deficit, which takes its toll on the immune system and cognitive abilities, causing moodiness, temper flares and other problems.

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. These  

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 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. The recession hit the economy hard and deep and leaving virtually no one untouched by it financially. Even the financial institutions who may be hounding you for payments have likely faced their share of financial problems. Many of whom received a nice fat check from the government to help solve their problems. Shouldn't we all be so lucky?  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.
 
Keep in mind it's just simple Math. Financial issues are just mathematical problems to be solved using a detailed, 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 stick to the math looking 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 real solutions. It's easy to make yourself sick thinking what might happen if you don't pay a bill that is due but, it is more productive, and less stressful, to spend time thinking about how to find the money to pay the bill.

You can lessen your feelings of anxiety and fear of the unknown by getting all the numbers down on paper. By putting your income and expenses on paper 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 within 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! Do something in your action plan now! Facing your problems head-on will help you feel productive and more in control of your situation and help you avoid physical ailments brought on by financial stress.


Remember, ACCI Counselors and the Customer Service Team is here to help you!