Stressed & Depressed? Don’t Let Debt Bring You Down
Being in debt and having trouble financially is extremely stressful. When you are worrying about how to pay your bills, it can seem overwhelming and hopeless. It’s no wonder that people who are dealing with financial difficulties are often stressed out or depressed.
Chances are there’s no easy way out of your financial situation, but you can’t let it take over your life and bring you down. Take time to cut the stress while figuring out your finances by following this advice…
Keep Communicating
Sometimes, when the bills are mounting and the money just isn’t there, it seems easier to just ignore problems and not talk about them; just shove the bills in a corner and go on about your business. This works for a while, but it will all catch up with you in the end. If you are married, you must take time to talk about your finances. Not fun, easy conversations to have, but it’s so much better if you stay on top of things and talk them out.
- Don’t lay blame. When you’re in financial stress, it’s easy to get frustrated and angry and begin to blame the other person for your financial problems. One may blame the other for overspending or not managing money well. The fact of the matter is that if you are a couple, you’re in it together and whatever has happened to get you in the mess you’re in, you got there together.
- Share responsibility. Just as it took two of you to get into the mess, you both need to be involved in getting out of it. In our house, I’ve always been the one who pays the bills and manages our finances, but really, it’s important to share the job. As you seek ways to get out of debt, work together. And as you begin to get control of your finances, you’ll share the success and celebrate as a team.
Make a Plan
One of the worst things about being in financial trouble is how helpless and
out of control you feel. The bills are adding up and the money just isn’t there
to pay them, and you don’t know what to do. Ignoring the problem is no good and only leads to more stress. Instead, make a plan for things you can do about your situation.
- Set Priorities: You may not be able to pay all your bills, but you can pay some of them. Sit down and make a list of all your expenses and compare that to your income. Then make a list of things you must pay each month, like your mortgage, food, utilities. If you have any money left after covering the basics, pay some toward your debt. Set your priorities as to what you pay first so you’ll at least know that you have a place to live and food to eat.
- Get Help: You may have gotten yourself into this mess, but you have no idea how to get yourself out. Help is out there and you need to find it. There are many financial counselling services out there. Check out www.centrelink.gov.au or www.humanservices.gov.au. Both websites offer information and tools to help with budgeting and getting out of financial trouble.
Take Care of Yourself
Stress and depression can take a physical toll on a person, causing many
problems from sleep deprivation to obesity. When I’m feeling down, I tend to
reach for food for comfort. Not healthy food, it’s junk food; and I don’t feel like exercising when I’m depressed. But when financial stress is weighing you down, you should really focus on taking care of yourself even more than ever.
- Exercise: You may not feel like getting off the couch or out of bed and exercising, but that’s exactly what you need to do. You won’t have money for membership in a gym, but that doesn’t mean you can’t work out. Easiest of all is walking or jogging, which can make you feel better both emotionally and physically. And you can do aerobics at home, either on your own or following along with a DVD. Whatever you do, just get up and get your body moving. You really will feel better for it.
- Eat Well: Again, when you’re stressed out about money, it is easy to just grab something cheap and greasy to eat. But that will only end up making you sluggish. Take time to make healthy meals and choose healthy snacks. Eating well will boost your energy and keep you feeling better.
- Talk: If money woes are bringing you down, make sure you have someone to talk to about things. Sometimes just letting it out can make you feel better. A good friend can offer encouragement, advice and understanding or even just be a shoulder to cry on.
When finances seem out of control, it’s hard to not be overwhelmed. But instead of letting it all get to you, be proactive and do what you can to ease stress and avoid depression. You will get control of your finances eventually – keep yourself healthy enough to enjoy it!
Image by Leolein
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