Financial Stress Can Affect Your Health

Financial stress is rampant in today's world. Elevating fuel and food costs, job insecurity, along with the slumping housing market and record number of foreclosures is making concerns over money and debt one of the top stressors.

The impact of finances on the work environment is showing itself in decreasing productivity, more absenteeism and increased emotional stress by people pre-occupied with money worries. Many are spending every penny they earn, barely paying for rent, food, gas and utilities. Many are living from paycheck to paycheck in fear of losing their jobs any day. Older workers show concern over how they will manage when they retire. Money matters are high on the list of family argument topics and a top cause of divorce.

And the financial stress is showing itself in the health of those who are having the greatest financial difficulties, according to a recent Associated Press-AOL Health Poll (March 24-April 3, 2008). Among this group of people there are more reports of trouble sleeping, headaches, mood disorders, and inability to concentrate - all symptoms of stress - the result of stress hormones circulating through the blood stream.

These stress hormones, according to the conclusions of researchers, especially cortisol, have a negative effect on every organ of the body when they are in the blood stream for an extended period of time.

Financial stress is indeed painful. Overcoming is not an easy road. You may need to make some life changes. You may want to speak with a credit counselor. It could take a while to resolve.

But as in all life issues, it's not so much the situation that is most important, (not that it's not important) but it's how you handle yourself through it all. How can you take care of YOU during this stressful time so you can have the stability and stamina to hold up? You need to have a sound mind to make good decisions and have the energy to carry them through.

This is where you can benefit from stress relief techniques. Many of them are free! If you can breathe you can relieve stress! If you can sit still, you can learn to relieve stress! In the midst of great trauma, you can learn to be calm. Little pieces of time throughout your day, put to good use, can do wonders for your state of mind.

Return from Financial Stress to Main Causes of Stress

Return from Financial Stress to Home