Worrying about finances can keep you awake at night
Stress for Success
May 27, 2008


Financial anxiety is at or near the top of what stresses most because it’s your security – your survival – that’s threatened. You probably obsessively worry about it, lose a lot of sleep over it, or escape your financial reality through increased use of alcohol or drugs.

In recent weeks I’ve addressed lowering this stress by setting up and living within a budget, following money-saving ideas, and setting up an emergency fund. All of these suggestions can lower financial anxiety. But how can you deal with that minute to minute fear that you experience?

All stress, financial or otherwise, begins and ends with what you say to yourself about it. So if constantly worrying about finances keeps you from sleeping well, it’s your worried self-talk (your beliefs) that’s keeping you awake. To minimize this moment-to-moment stress listen to what you’re thinking, challenge it when it’s anger/fear-based, and ultimately change it to lower your stress.

Anger /fear-based self-talk simply indicates that you’re anxious. These survival emotions are intended to motivate you to take positive action to solve whatever is triggering them. Along with taking the necessary action to handle your money problems, challenge the following thought patterns:
Catastrophizing includes rigid words like, “always, never, no one, everyone, etc.” E.g., “I’ll always be alone in trying to keep my head above water!” Whenever you use “always,” stop and challenge yourself by finding evidence that it’s an exaggeration. Will you never in your entire future find a mate to share life and finances with? Your perception becomes your reality. So assuming you’ll never find a mate probably makes it more likely.
Pessimistic thinking suggests that your present financial situation is:
ongoing; it’ll never end versus it’s a temporary setback
affecting every aspect of your life including your family and professional life, not just your financial life
completely your fault

Pessimism can be more realistic than optimism, however, it depresses, therefore stresses you, keeping you from seeing stress reducing options.

Challenge pessimistic interpretations. For example, “I’ll never get out of this hole I’ve dug for myself. I’m such a loser.” Will you really go to your grave in this same financial hole? “I’m such a loser,” suggests that it’s not just in finances that you’re a loser but in life in general. Instead, remind yourself of your success in other life areas.
§ Affirm how you need to be: Consistently replace rigid and pessimistic thinking with an affirmation stating how you need to be to get your financial house in order. “I’m frugal, financially responsible, and patient in getting out of debt.”

For survival reasons, the human mind tends to drift to the negative when not focused on something. Rein it in by staying occupied and consistently replacing stressful thinking with your affirmation. It won’t make money appear but it allows you to focus on resolving your financial woes.

This too shall pass so learn from past financial mistakes. When the good times roll again prepare for the inevitable slump that’s sure to follow.

Jacquelyn Ferguson, M. S., of InterAction Associates, is a trainer and a Stress Coach. E-mail her at www.jackieferguson.com with your questions or for information about her workshops on this and other topics and to invite her to speak to your organization.