Living with heavy debt goes beyond just money problems. It can seep into other aspects of your life, especially if you’re dealing with thousands of dollars in bills. If you’ve spent sleepless nights worrying about debt or felt a wave of anxiety when receiving calls from unknown numbers, you’ve already experienced some of the mental stress debt can bring.
What many don’t realize is that debt can also impact your physical health. The connection between mind and body means that financial stress can affect both mental and physical well-being.
For instance, a study from the Motley Fool found that 38 percent of people in debt struggle with sleep. Poor sleep quality doesn’t just make you tired during the day; it can lead to serious health issues like heart problems, high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes. It even hampers your ability to think clearly and solve problems.
A survey by the American Psychological Association revealed that money is the top stressor for Americans, outranking work, family responsibilities, and health concerns. High levels of financial stress often push people to engage in unhealthy behaviors, like excessive drinking, to cope. These behaviors can further damage physical health.
Chronic stress from debt can disrupt bodily systems and lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms.
While there’s no easy fix for debt, there are steps you can take to start addressing it. The first step is revisiting your budget. Many people see budgeting as restrictive, but modern expense tracking apps make it easier to understand spending habits and find ways to direct funds toward paying off debt.
If traditional debt repayment seems overwhelming, consider exploring debt relief options. Freedom Debt Relief reviews show that many people choose debt settlement to negotiate lower balances when financial stress becomes too much to handle. Other solutions like debt consolidation loans and debt management plans can also be worth exploring, depending on your specific situation.
Looking closely at your spending and saving habits can help, too. Ask yourself how you can reduce debt-related stress. For example, if you tend to max out credit cards on online shopping due to boredom, identify those triggers and remove your payment information from shopping sites to make impulsive purchases harder.
Small changes can align your actions with your financial goals, helping you progress toward becoming debt-free. Since debt can significantly affect your mental and physical health, it’s crucial to manage it as soon as possible.