Four Ways Money Problems Can Affect Your Health

Money has a profound effect on our lives. Unfortunately, many of us don’t ever seem to have enough to go around. That means paying bills becomes a struggle, we can’t afford big purchases, like car repairs, and we may have to start picking and choosing what we buy and when, depending on when we get paid.

Looking for ways to save can help. Using an affordable money transfer service with low fees, clipping coupons, and avoiding the ATM can help you keep more of your hard-earned money, but you should also be focusing on your health.

Money problems can drastically affect your health in a number of ways. Here are just a few.

Stress

Everyone who has money problems experiences at least a low level of underlying stress. For many of us, the problem is more severe, and stress starts to run our lives.

Stress can be a good thing if it motivates you to look for a new job or ask for a raise. However, it can reach a tipping point where it becomes debilitating. It can cause physical ailments such as:

• Headaches
• Stomach trouble
• Increased fatigue

Anxiety and Depression

It doesn’t take long for stress to turn into something much worse. If you don’t deal with the stress money is causing, it will quickly turn into anxiety and/or depression.

Many people find their money problems become even worse because at this point, it’s more difficult to find the energy or the courage to change your situation. Instead, some people with anxiety and depression start calling into work sick more often, further lowering their wages. Eventually, that can lead to job loss and unemployment.

Because anxiety and depression can have such a negative impact on your life, it is important that you seek professional help to get your financial, mental, and physical health back on track if you think you’re depressed.

Insomnia

Whether you’re suffering from stress, anxiety, or depression as a result of money problems, you may also find yourself with insomnia. There’s just something about turning the lights out and laying in the quiet that makes it easy to ruminate on money problems.

A lack of sleep comes with a slew of other problems that include:

• Irritability and moodiness
• Short-term memory loss
• Impaired motor skills
• Slowed reflexes

In addition, adults who struggle with insomnia are more likely to be obese, and they have an increased risk of colon cancer, breast cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

Unhealthy Ways to Deal

Many people look for ways to cope with their money problems. The trouble is, most of those ways are unhealthy.

It isn’t uncommon for people to start smoking, drinking, or overeating, which can ultimately result in even more health problems. Those health problems will end up creating more medical bills, which in turn will make any bad money situation worse.

You don’t have to feel doomed to deal with your money problems! Knowing how money trouble can affect your health is the first step to regaining control of your cash, your health, and your life.