How is financial stress affecting your health?

Words SAMANTHA ASHLEY

These days with the current world health pandemic, everywhere you look, the symptoms of financial stress are evident: job losses across almost every sector of the economy, dwindling bank and superannuation balances and mortgage stress to name just a few.

This financial stress has contributed to several other symptoms that have slipped under the radar: insomnia and sleep disturbances, headaches and migraines, poor eating habits, increased blood pressure, increased alcohol consumption, addictions, depression and anxiety.

These sudden unexpected extended periods of financial stress have been impacting our physical, mental, and emotional health, compounding the difficulties that many people, especially low to moderate income individuals and families face. As the global population tries to navigate these uncertain times and consider ways to strengthen and support finance at an institutional level, we also need to remember the impact that financial instability is having on health outcomes in individuals.

Financial stress can affect sleep in several ways, preventing people from getting enough sleep, and from having a quality sleep. A stressed person may exacerbate sleep problems by choosing poor coping mechanisms such as prescription medications, drugs, or alcohol. Other common sleep disorders often associated with stress include sleepwalking, sleep apnoea and bruxism (teeth grinding).

Sometimes people under financial stress will skip meals, binge eat or eat too much junk food which can lead to elevated blood sugar. People often feel too tired to exercise and skip regular exercise routines which can impair their health; exercise is a good way to reduce blood sugar levels, increase energy levels and release stress and tension.

In addition to detrimentally affecting physical health, financial stress can also affect mental health and the ability to think clearly. With a lack of clear thinking, financial problems can look like they are insurmountable which can lead to depression and despair.

Where are your priorities?

Priority number one is YOU. Take each hour as it comes, then each day. Know that as each moment passes you are okay and will be okay. Eat good food, drink plenty of water. Be kind to yourself.

Walk daily, especially if you don’t feel like it. Avoid thinking about anything else accept what is around you (the birds, the trees, the smell of fresh air, the cool breeze on your skin.) When you start to think about money problems, come back to the present moment.

Deep breathing is one of the best things you can do to take your nervous system out of ‘fight or flight’ and into ‘rest and repair’ mode. Sit in a quiet space, with good posture, relaxed shoulders, arms behind your back so your chest is open, close your eyes, breathe in deeply through the nose, and out through the mouth, rhythmically without holding that breath. Repeat 10 times daily or as often as required.

www.greenvalleybowentherapy.com.au