Do you often find yourself faced with financial stress?

I mean the kind of stress that affects your mental health and disrupts your life.

You may experience frequent upset stomachs, sleepless nights, and a barrage of self-depraving thoughts.

If you’re nodding along, then rest assured you’re not alone. Many people, just like you, are plagued with worry. They, too, deal with the heavy load of financial stress.

You may have trouble feeling happy when worry constantly bombards you. So, here are three valuable keys for coping when it all seems like too much to handle.

Key #1: Believe That You and Your Debt Are Two Separate Entities

It’s easy to bunch together your past mistakes and the core of who you are as a person. This combination tends to look like a big bundle of tangled negativity.

But here’s the thing: You aren’t your past!

And further still, you aren’t your financial debt.

To really drive this point home to yourself, you’re going to have to spend some time with that thought. Say to yourself, “I am not my debt.” Write it in your journal and speak it out loud to your reflection in the mirror.

“I am NOT my debt.”

Once you wrap your head around that belief, then you will feel a descending freedom. It’s empowering to be loosed from past mistakes.

Financial stress and past money mistakes are thick as thieves. So, it’s up to you to adopt a new mindset about who you are. And the first key to coping with financial stress is to break free from that downtrodden headspace.

Key #2: Get a Firm Grip on the Numbers

Tip number two is going to require you to be brave. According to some, it might even burn your eyes a little. The reason is that you need to take a long, hard look at your finances.

Like implied, this task could be painful. But, you need to know what you’re really dealing with.

If you’re like most people struggling with financial stress, you probably try to avoid your bank balance. Keep in mind that there is a massive amount of fear attached to the unknown.

So, eliminate the unknown. Make friends with your financial situation.

Look at what’s coming in and what’s going out. Examine your budget from the front, back, left, and right. You’ll likely find that this gives you an unprecedented sense of control.

Although the numbers might shock you at first, they’ll also bring honesty. Nothing is more truthful than numbers! Once you can look them in the face, you can then strategize a realistic game plan to reach your financial goals.

Key #3: Find a Knowledgeable Support Circle

Fighting financial stress could seem like an epic battle. So don’t do it by yourself. Find a trusted individual or a group to support you.

This may mean talking to a local organization or an accountant about your financial situation. It could even mean talking to a therapist about how your finances have impacted your mental health.

More than getting things off your chest, talking about it gives you a chance to really dig deep into your situation. Not only are you establishing a brand new mindset about money, but you’re also changing your financial future.

It’s important to find someone who will support you as you pursue both endeavors. And even offer guidance along the way. Understanding the complex world of money is hard enough, let alone the way it impacts you psychologically.

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If you’re ready to break free from the financial stress that is negatively impacting your life, please contact me. I’d love to help you navigate through the anxiety and other emotions you’re facing and support you in your goals.