Many of us are struggling for money. Around 80% of US workers live paycheck to paycheck, and we’re dying with an average of $62000 of debt, including mortgages, loans, car finance agreements, credit card balances and overdrafts. Gone are the days where everyone knew that they’d inherit money and property from their parents. Many parents aren’t even leaving money to pay for a funeral. Instead,  we’re left having to pay off debts and find ways out of unpaid mortgages.

Debt is a genuine problem in our society. Money is offered to us at every turn, and when we’re struggling, it’s so easy to fall into debts. But much harder to get out of them. Even when you are earning enough to pay your bills and for luxuries, your debts can start to eat into your income, and it can seem like there’s no end in sight.

At this time of the year, things can feel much worse. The holidays are coming, our shopping lists are mounting, and it can all seem impossible. Your finances might be causing you concern, but are they doing more than that? Are they affecting your health and wellbeing?

Do You Worry Every day?

Do you spend at least some time every day thinking about money? Worrying about what’s in the bank, or when your bills are due? It’s healthy to have a firm grasp of your income and expenditure and to check your banking app often so that you are prepared and in control. But, it’s not healthy to obese or to find that your days are lost to worry and concern.

Are You Scared of an Unexpected Expense?

What would you do if your car broke down? Does the very thought make you sweat? Do you spend time worrying about how you would cope? Are you anxious and scared of the idea of having to pay a massive, unexpected bill?

While no one likes it when things go wrong and need paying for, it shouldn’t fill you with dread. Try to get to the point where you’ve at least got a plan of what you would do if the worst happened or a small savings fund. Even having a credit card that you only use for emergencies can help you to feel better.

Do You Lie Awake Worrying About Money?

If your finances are affecting your health, the first way that you might notice is how it affects your sleep. If you lay awake into the night, worrying, unable to stop thinking about money, or as though there is a weight sat on your chest, then your money worries are starting to affect your health.

If you frequently wake in the night, you toss and turn for hours and struggle to get back to sleep, or you spend your days feeling tired and grumpy, you will soon start to exhibit the physical symptoms that come with a lack of sleep.

Have You Stopped Doing Things That You Love?

When money worries start to take over your life, it can be hard to find enjoyment in the things that you used to love. Especially the ones that cost money. You might start to feel guilty about doing anything fun or interesting. You might even forget about them altogether.

Do you Feel A Lack of Control?

One of the first signs that your finances are going to become a much more serious issue for your health is a loss of control. When you think about money, or look at your bank account, do you feel as though you don’t know what is going on, or like there is no way out of the situation that you’ve found yourself in. You might find that this feeling displays as a tightness in your chest. You might even have panic attacks when you think about your finances.

Are You Anxious When the Phone Rings?

When we’re in trouble financially, we often feel scared that everything will come crashing down. You might worry that every phone call is the bank or a bill that needs paying and that you won’t be able to deal with their demands. If every phone call, or every email, causes you to feel anxious and panicked, and you are overwhelmed with relief at the end of an unrelated call, it’s time to confront your problems.

Do You Spend More to Feel Better?

Most of us are guilty of doing things that we shouldn’t to make us feel better. Often the things that we should be avoiding in the first place. When we’re on a diet, we comfort eat when we’re upset, and when we’re struggling for money, we go out and shop to make us feel better.

If you find that you often go out and spend to make yourself happy, only to find that you feel guilty by the time that you get home, you are stuck in a pattern that needs to be broken.

Are You Looking After Yourself?

Are you eating well, sleeping, exercising? Are you spending time with your friends? Do you care about your health? If these things have stopped mattering to you, because you feel so bad about your financial situation, then money is very much affecting your health.

If you’ve answered yes to more than a few of these questions, the reality is that money worries are affecting your physical and mental health, as well as your quality of life. Worrying about money is causing you stress and anxiety. It’s taking enjoyment away from the things that you used to love, and it’s taking over every element of your life. If this is the case, the very first thing that you need to do is take control. Try to consolidate debts, look into payday loans no credit check, take the time to build a household budget and really spend time learning more about your own financial situation. You might also want to consider speaking to someone from a money advice service.

Sometimes, merely talking control and talking to someone about your problems can take a massive weight off your mind. But you need to keep it up. Don’t like your finances control you, step up and start controlling them. You’ll soon begin to feel better for it.