How Debt Affects Your Body and Mind
The devastating effects of debt.
In the past, my debts have almost made me sick.
I know what it is like to be in debt. They keep you up at night, make your heart race, and give you exhaustion.
I know what it’s like when you owe money to someone you can’t pay at the moment, how it feels to be stuck on an endless roller coaster — or in an elevator that keeps going up and down. You want to get out, but you can’t.
The effects of debt on your mental health are closing in on you, and before you see them coming, they have you firmly in their grip.
Every time a bill came due whether I could pay it or not my anxiety became particularly strong.
At best I was easily irritable but sometimes paralyzed. I couldn’t concentrate on anything else, I had horrible thoughts that I couldn’t get rid of, and sometimes even chest pains.
Eventually, I started talking about my financial situation, but I was embarrassed to blame my personal finances for my anxiety. As my debt decreased significantly and I finally regained control, everything became much easier for me again.
There came a point where I didn’t care if I spent another $100 to buy something nice to cheer myself up. I lost confidence in myself and my sense of responsibility.
The stigma and feelings of shame associated with financial debt are largely responsible for the emotional burden that debt brings with it.
This is why it is so difficult for us to talk about it openly — even if it is not our fault, but perhaps only very low wages have been paid or layoffs have been announced for operational reasons.
We are taught from a young age not to talk about money.
Our parents preached us not to tell anyone how much it costs. This is how the belief that money is something secret, something we are ashamed of and should not talk about, is anchored in our society.
This attitude becomes even stronger when we grow up and start working. Sometimes it even says in our employment contracts that we cannot disclose our salary.
People worry about how all this will affect their income and standard of living. This, in turn, affects mental health.
We need to talk to each other.
We need to make others feel that they are not alone and break the shame of financial debt.
We need to learn to use debt to our advantage. To get rich. Not to keep us up at night.
Those good tweets
This article is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered Financial or Legal Advice. Not all information will be accurate. Consult a financial professional before making any major financial decisions.