Our mental health can be affected by concerns about money in a number of ways. One of the main sources of anxiety is being able to afford the essentials, such as housing, food, water, heating or medication, which can affect your mental health.
Money problems can also make you feel stressed because you may not have enough to pay priority debts. They can also impact your mood or make you feel guilty for not earning enough or that you are currently unemployed. Exhaustion may also be a factor due to concerns keeping you up at night or you simply feeling overwhelmed.
If you feel this way then you are not alone. Money worries are highly common and one of the main reasons why people ask the automotive charity Ben for help.
How mental health affects money management
When we’re struggling with our mental health, thinking about money can be the last thing we want to tackle. The thought of trying to solve money problems can be overwhelming, so we simply put it off, which doesn’t help anyone in the long run.
Your mental health could affect how you manage your money in a number of ways:
Feeling low or depressed and lacking the motivation to manage your finances.
Making impulsive financial decisions and overspending to make you feel better in the short term.
Avoiding doing things to stay on top of your money, such as opening bills or checking your bank accounts. You could also avoid thinking about money completely.
Skipping meals or staying at home to save money, which may increase social isolation and loneliness.
Having to reduce your income if it impacts your ability to work.
Talking about money
We know opening up about your finances can be scary, but you can shape that conversation in any way you want. Chat with a colleague over a cuppa, call a trusted friend or text a family member – it all counts. And Ben’s always here for you if you
need support.
Talking about money can feel difficult and embarrassing. We might feel like people will judge us for not having enough money or not knowing how to manage it. Many of us avoid talking about money, which can make it even harder when we suddenly need support. Starting a conversation about money can be difficult, but it’s important to let people know what you are struggling with. It can help to talk to:
Someone you trust can help make your money problems seem smaller or help you gain a new perspective. This could be a close friend, colleague, partner or family member.
Friends. Being honest about money can help others understand so that you do activities that everyone can afford and no one misses out. You might even find that others are in the same boat.
Trained professionals can offer expert advice to help you manage your money, get the most out of it and make sure that you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to.
Ben can also help. If you need support with money, your mental health or both, just get in touch.
Rachel Clift is Health and Wellbeing Director at Ben
Each year, Ben supports many people who are struggling to make ends meet for all kinds of different reasons. If you are worrying about money, you can chat with us online at ben.org.uk/get-help or call our free and confidential helpline on 08081 311 333 (Mon-Fri 8am-8pm).
This is an edited extract from IMI's new MotorPro magazine, received free as part of IMI membership.
