Hey there, beautiful savers! Let’s dive into a topic that’s becoming ever more important in our lives: financial trauma. Ever felt uneasy, anxious, or stressed about money matters? You’re not alone! A staggering 42% of U.S. adults have reported that money negatively impacts their mental health. We at Wellthi want to help you establish a positive relationship with money. Let’s get started!
Financial trauma can stem from a series of events, from growing up in an environment where ends were hard to meet, to facing unemployment or dealing with significant debt. It affects not only you but can also influence the dynamics of your family. As Dr. Traci Williams explains, it can result from “chronic financial hardships or surviving an acute financial stressor.”
While not an official mental health diagnosis, financial trauma can mirror symptoms similar to PTSD. It can keep you awake at night, create a sense of dread about money, or cause you to avoid essential money-related behaviors. Physical symptoms can also manifest, such as stomach aches and headaches.
The good news? It’s never too late to break free from financial trauma and start fostering healthier money habits. And we at Wellthi are here to help you navigate this journey, just as a friend would.
Let’s acknowledge that admitting you’ve gone through financial trauma is the first crucial step. Recognizing that you were hurt by a situation and admitting that it was challenging paves the way to understanding your responses to financial triggers.
Now that you’ve recognized it, let’s talk about it. Sharing your experiences with your loved ones can help you make peace with your past and shift towards a solution-oriented approach. Remember, it’s all about starting small: saving a bit of your income to build an emergency fund, for example, can give you more control over your finances.
Working with a financial therapist or a psychotherapist specialized in managing trauma effects can be incredibly beneficial. They can help you understand your relationship with money and help you build healthier habits.
Further, you can join support groups that discuss money-related issues. Consider attending meetings of Debtors Anonymous, Spenders Anonymous, or Gamblers Anonymous. Enhancing your financial literacy is also critical. Government resources provided by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau are fantastic tools for that.
With Wellthi, we take this a step further by enabling you to share your financial goals with your friends, making the process of saving fun and less intimidating. With our app, you’re never alone on your journey to financial health!
Lastly, it’s crucial to prevent passing on financial trauma to our children. By addressing our own issues, we can set them on a better path. Start having conversations about money with them – explain how we work for money, how we use it for our needs and wants, and how we can give to others.
In a nutshell, it’s never too late to cultivate healthy financial habits, and remember, you’re not alone on this journey. With Wellthi, your financial health is a shared goal. Let’s conquer it together!
Go Deeper
- https://www.entrepreneur.com/finance/generational-poverty-how-to-break-the-cycle-of-poverty/437010: A detailed article explaining financial trauma, its causes, and effects on individuals and how to break free.
- https://debtorsanonymous.org/: Support group for individuals struggling with debt, a useful resource for those dealing with financial trauma.
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/generational-trauma: An article explaining how generational financial trauma affects you and your finances
