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Money Problems and Financial Stress

Next to chronic physical pain, money problems are the second most common reason for sleep problems in America -- and this has been the case long before the current financial mess we’re in experiencing in 2008-2009. Indeed, fear of survival is a good cause for feeling terror.

75% of Americans Suffer Stress About Money Problems

In a poll conducted by the American Psychological Association, 75% of Americans admitted they suffer stress about money problems. When people are faced with is an immediate threat, the fight-or-flight stress behavior helps us by tensing our muscles, constricting our arteries, numbing us to pain and sending us into a super-charged energy state. This heightened state is a lifesaver if you need to run out a burning building, flee a knife-welding attacker, or lift a heavy object to free a trapped person.

However when this reaction keeps us awake at night, creates excess tension during the day and generally makes us live at 80 miles per hour for a sustained time, it wrecks our health, drives us into a hyper-tense mental state and undermines our personal relationships. Perhaps you’ve been aware of this general principle, so let’s give you some details of what stress causes with financial problems.

Most Prevalent Stress During the Holidays

When the American Psychological Association (APA) polled Americans as to what was the most prevalent stress during the holiday season, money problems were the top choice, and young people under 35 were more worried about lacking the money to give gifts than their older counterparts. And 36% of people confessed that ate more food or drank more alcohol in order to cope with the added stress.

In a September 2007 poll by the APA, 48% of people confirmed that their stress has increased over the past five years. (Imagine what that figure is now!) And the APA press release states that increased stress is creating more health problems, poor relationships and lost productivity at work — generating more work stress!

77% With Physical Symptoms

Of those polled, 77% from physical symptoms such as: headaches 51%, stomach problems 34%, physical tension 30%, change in appetite 23%. And 73% said they were suffering from psychological symptoms such as: anger/irritability 50%, nervousness 45%, low energy 45%, and lying awake at night 48%! (Which brings to mind the words from the old Eagles song, “Don’t let the sounds of your own wheels drive you crazy.”)

Another poll – the AP-AOL Health Poll – was a fact-finding survey that revealed how the stress of financial debt takes a physical toll on people. Specifically, they reported that 10-16 million Americans are experiencing agonizing suffering due to the agonizing stress of financial debt.

Illness and Stress

One research psychologist who analyzed the results reported that those individuals with high levels of stress experienced at least three illness brought on by that stress. The stress symptoms that afflicted these individuals broke down to these: physical tension/low back pain 51%; migraines or other headaches 44%; severe anxiety 29%; ulcers or digestive tract problems 27%; severe depression 23%.

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Sources: Stress a Major Health Problem in the U.S. American Psychological Association press releases October 24, 2007 Money Issues Leading Cause of Holiday Stress For Americans American Psychological Association press releases December 3, 2004 AP-AOL Health Poll: Debt Stress AP-AOL/ABT SRBI – March 24 – April 3 2008 Health Poll (http://surveys.ap.org/)

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