Financial stress is common if you are forced into frugality because of a lost job, divorce, death in the family, being over your head in debt or for countless other life situations. This can lead to feelings of insecurity, fear, anxiety, anger and of course depression. These feelings can also cause you to make poor money management decisions. These poor decisions can lead to heavier debt loads and start a vicious cycle of fear, anxiety and panic that never seems to end.
When you reach this point of high stress, worry and anxiety, your feelings of helplessness and hopelessness can become so overwhelming you literally stop functioning in the real world.
Understanding, Acceptance & Getting Help
If you recognize any of the above traits in yourself, don’t be reluctant to ask for or to get the help you need. Talk to a friend, loved one, doctor, minister, debt counselor … talk to someone! If you know someone who is exhibiting the above traits, help them! It doesn’t matter whether you lend an ear, offer some advice or help them get counseling. Do something.
The first thing you have to realize, understand and accept is that no situation is hopeless. With just a little guidance, a couple of well thought out goals and emotional support from family and friends, you can do what needs to be done and come out of dire circumstances with a new outlook, new skills and best of all an improved of self-esteem.
Who Are Your True Friends?
When you have problems, whether financial, family or legal, it usually doesn’t take very long for you to realize who really cares about you, and who is truly a friend. Your friends will support you in your time of need, offer encouragement, and lend an ear so you can just talk. Don’t be upset or angry by this. Just remember, it is you who is blessed with true friends.
Setting Priorities During Financial Stress
The well-being of you and your family has to be your priority during times of financial stress and upheaval. Did you notice how “well-being of you” was first in that sentence, and not “your family?” The reason for that is very simple. If you take care of you first, then you are taking care of your family at the same time. In financially stressful times, if you, as the parent, can’t cope, how can you expect your children to cope now, or in the future?
So make the decision now to learn how to cope, to make the changes you can, to stay focused and goal-oriented and to let anxiety and financial stress go out the door with the shoulda-coulda-woulda’s. You cannot go back now, so move forward with a plan and a positive attitude toward debt freedom. You are worth it and your family is worth it.
Written by Heather Resneder
At CounselingWorks, we know that financial stress can lead to feelings of insecurity, fear, anxiety, anger and of course depression. Contact us today to speak to one of our highly qualified counselors.
