How Money Worries Can Lead to Depression and What You Can Do About It

Few people are feeling good about the state of the economy, but if you’re experiencing true money worries, then you need to be mindful of your emotional health. If you’re not careful, these financial concerns can turn into serious health problems, including depression. Read on to find out how money worries can lead to negative emotional states and what you can do to beat depression back in times of financial hardship.

• Fight Fatigue
Are you working overtime or taking on two jobs to try to make ends meet? Even if you’re not working longer hours than usual, you’re likely losing sleep over the unpaid bills sitting on your desk. This can leave you feeling worn out, which not only makes it hard to get up and work another day, but it can take a toll on your mood over time. To fight fatigue and thus, beat depression, make sure that you’re eating a healthy diet and exercising as much as possible. It may be tempting to neglect these things and try to get in a few more hours of work instead, but resist the urge. It will only leaving you feeling depleted, which will actually make you less productive.

• Say Goodbye to Stress
Anyone who has dealt with money worries knows just how stressful it can be. After all, there are few things more anxiety-provoking that not knowing how you’re going to make ends meet. Stressing out over your financial woes won’t make them go away, however. In fact, the more anxious you feel, the less equipped you will be to find a solution to the problem. Practice stress management techniques such as deep breathing and meditation to achieve a calmer state. If you can’t seem to put your anxiety to rest, reach out to a friend, counselor, or mentor. Sometimes, just talking things through can ease the burden a bit. Whatever you do, don’t let your anxiety get out of hand. Chronic anxiety is linked to depression, which can have a crippling effect on your motivation and self-esteem.

• Tackle Feelings of Unworthiness
When you’re dealing with money worries, feelings of unworthiness are almost always just around the corner. Financial hardship can lead to a lot of different feelings, most of them negative. You may find yourself wondering why you can’t seem to get your head above water. This can make you feel defeated and undeserving of success or wealth. It’s important that you recognize these feelings so that you can identify them as what they are—lies! Don’t allow yourself to slide into self-pity. Instead, beat depression by lifting yourself up. Be your biggest cheerleader and start every day off by telling yourself how worthy and capable you are—whether you feel like it or not!

Money worries are bad enough on their own, but when you combine them with anxiety and depression, you can have a real problem on your hands. As difficult as it might be, find time to take care of yourself and your emotional wellbeing during times of economic hardship. When you do, you’ll find that you have more energy and motivation to tackle your circumstances and change them for the better.