Financial stress happens when worries about paying bills, managing debt, or trying to save money make you feel anxious or uneasy about your finances [1].
Financial stress is a common experience that can negatively impact your life in different ways.
You can ease money-related stress by seeking professional support. A therapist can teach you coping skills, help you build a healthier mindset about money, and change unhealthy spending habits.
A sharp rise in the costs of groceries, everyday products, and housing [2] — paired with growing unemployment and worries about the economy — can keep anyone up at night. If you’re frequently concerned about money, it can affect your health, mood, and ability to focus.
Sometimes financial stress is temporary, like when you need to pay for an unexpected car or home repair. Other times, it can be caused by ongoing challenges like rising prices, debt, or not earning enough to cover your bills. However, there are ways to ease your stress and start feeling in control of your life again.
Symptoms of financial stress
Dealing with financial stress and uncertainty can take a serious toll on your health, leading to both physical and emotional symptoms. Everyone experiences money stress differently, but some common signs of financial stress include:
Worrying about where your money is coming from or how you’ll make ends meet
Arguing with loved ones about money
Thinking about your finances constantly or feeling like you never have enough
Losing sleep or feeling anxious when you think about money
Feeling guilty, tired, sad, or overwhelmed about your financial situation
Experiencing physical symptoms like headaches or digestive problems
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What contributes to money worries
Anyone can feel stressed about money, but some people are more likely to experience challenges depending on their income, life stage, or responsibilities. Studies show [3] that financial stress is especially common among families with low income, those assigned female at birth, young adults, single or unemployed people, and people who rent their homes.
Other factors that can add to financial stress include:
Living paycheck to paycheck: When every dollar goes toward basic needs like rent, groceries, or transportation, it can feel like you’re one unexpected expense away from falling behind.
Retirement worries: People nearing or already in retirement may stress about whether their savings will last, how to pay for rising medical costs, or if they’ll have enough to live comfortably.
Medical debt: Owing money for medical bills [4] can take a major toll on your finances and mental health.
Poor financial literacy: Budgeting, investing, and managing credit aren’t typically taught in school, so many adults feel unprepared to manage their money.
Comparing yourself to others: Seeing friends or coworkers buy new homes, go on vacations, or brag about expensive purchases on social media can make you feel like you’re falling behind.
The effects of financial hardship
Financial stress can impact all areas of your life. It doesn’t just affect your bank account, it can also change how you think, feel, and connect with others.
Ongoing money worries can lead to:
Low self-esteem: Feeling like you’re failing financially can hurt your confidence.
Physical problems: Chronic stress can lead to headaches, muscle pains, and a weaker immune system.
Unhealthy coping habits: You might eat poorly, skip exercise, or turn to unhealthy substance use to cope.
Relationship strain: Money disagreements are one of the top causes of breakups and family conflicts.
Impacts on your mental health: Constant financial stress can also worsen mental health conditions [5] or make it harder to manage them.
Here’s how money worries can connect to different conditions:
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Managing money can be challenging when you have ADHD [6] and have difficulty with focus and organization.
Anxiety disorders: Constant worry can make it difficult to make sound financial choices. Some people turn to compulsive buying to find relief and get a boost of dopamine, but that calm usually fades fast.
Depression: Feeling hopeless or drained [7] can make it tough to budget, pay bills, or plan ahead.
Bipolar disorder: During manic periods, people with bipolar disorder may overspend or take financial risks [8]. In depressive phases, they may lose motivation to manage money.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Finances can feel overwhelming or triggering [9], leading some people with PTSD to avoid them or spend impulsively for comfort.
Healthy ways to manage financial stress
The first step in managing financial stress is noticing how your money worries affect your mood, health, and daily life.
Set realistic goals. Setting and sticking to financial goals can seem overwhelming. Using S.M.A.R.T. goals [10] (those that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based) can help you take small meaningful steps toward relieving financial stress.
Join a support group. Talking with others who share your difficulties with debt or budgeting can make you feel less alone and more motivated.
Get help managing your money. Using a free online financial planning tool can make it easier to track your spending. You can also find free financial advice and other services through the Foundation for Financial Planning [11].
Practice self-care. Financial stress affects both your mind and body. Make time to rest, exercise, and connect with supportive friends and family.
Seek professional support. If financial stress is taking a toll on your physical and emotional health, a therapist can teach you healthy coping skills and help you manage anxiety around money.
Many people try to avoid their financial stress by not checking accounts or bills. It feels protective in the moment, but avoidance usually increases anxiety and keeps the cycle going. Talking with a therapist can help you feel more in control.
Brandy Chalmers, LPC
Clinical reviewer
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If financial stress is weighing you down and making you feel sad, guilty, or alone, therapy can help you find hope, build healthier habits, and move forward with confidence. A therapist can help you set achievable goals, change negative thought patterns, and learn how to reduce stress.
At Rula, we’re here to help you feel better. Rula makes it easy to find a licensed therapist or psychiatric provider who takes your insurance. That way, you don’t have to choose between great care and a price you can afford.
Rula patients pay about $15 per session with insurance, and 93% say they feel better after getting care through Rula. We have 21,000+ providers, and appointments are available as soon as tomorrow. We’re here to help you take the next step — wherever you are in your mental health journey.
References
- Economic predictors of the subjective experience of financial stress https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214635024000480
- Most Americans continue to rate the U.S. economy negatively as partisan gap widens https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/10/03/most-americans-continue-to-rate-the-us-economy-negatively-as-partisan-gap-widens/#:~:text=What%20are%20Americans%27%20top%20economic,the%20cost%20of%20housing%20today.
- The Relationship Between Financial Worries and Psychological Distress Among U.S. Adults https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8806009/
- Medical Debt Burden in the United States https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/cfpb_medical-debt-burden-in-the-united-states_report_2022-03.pdf
- The Facts: What you need to know https://www.moneyandmentalhealth.org/money-and-mental-health-facts/
- Managing Money and ADHD: Expenses and Goals https://chadd.org/for-adults/managing-money-and-adhd-expenses-and-goals/
- Financial stress and depression in adults: A systematic review https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8863240/
- Financial difficulties in bipolar disorder part 1: longitudinal relationships with mental health https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30445874/
- The impact of pre- and post-trauma financial problems on posttraumatic stress symptoms, anxiety and depression symptoms, and emotional support: A prospective population-based comparative study https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S088761852300052X
- Setting Goals and Developing Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound Objectives https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/nc-smart-goals-fact-sheet.pdf
- Foundation for Financial Planning https://ffpprobono.org/
Linda Childers
Linda is an award-winning medical writer with experience writing for major media outlets, health companies, hospitals, and both consumer and trade print and digital outlets.
Her articles have appeared in the Washington Post, USA Today, WebMD, AARP, Brain+Life, HealthyWomen.org, The Rheumatologist, California Health Report, Everyday Health, HealthCentral, and many other media outlets.
While juggling the responsibilities of being part of the “sandwich generation” and caring for both her toddler son and terminally ill mother, a nurse friend encouraged her to seek therapy, which helped her to learn coping strategies and manage her depression. Linda hopes her work will help to destigmatize mental health conditions and encourage others to get the help they need.
Brandy Chalmers, LPC
Having faced challenges like childhood abuse, neglect, and the loss of her father to suicide, Brandy Chalmers is deeply passionate about providing compassionate care. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, and Registered Play Therapist with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy.
Brandy also teaches at a university, sharing her expertise with future mental health professionals. With over a decade of experience in settings like inpatient care and private practice, she specializes in helping clients with perfectionism, trauma, personality disorders, eating disorders, and life changes.
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