Money Anxiety: How to Relieve Financial Stress

Therapy can give us the tools to handle our money anxiety, but it takes a good therapist and a committed client to put those tools into practice. What can we actually do to cope with our money anxiety? What advice do the experts have to offer when it comes to mental wellness in an age of increasing financial insecurity?

Lauren Mishkin is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in St. Petersburg who is an expert in helping clients cope with their money anxiety in a sustainable and healthy way. Financial difficulties are an increasingly common reality for all of us, and counselors like Lauren help their clients find homeostasis no matter what their finances are looking like.

Why Do We Feel Money Anxiety?

“I get it. With so many uncertainties prevalent in our country and economy right now, it can feel frivolous to take on any more monthly expenses. But what if those uncertainties were exactly the reason you would be wise to invest in your wellbeing? Having a chronically dysregulated nervous system can cause a plethora of immediate and long-term health consequences that would likely cost more in the end. Having a chronically dysregulated nervous system causes us to lose access to the parts of our brains where our goals, values, and morals live. So we say things we don’t mean and do things we later regret. Chronically dysregulated nervous systems can lead us to shut down with decision fatigue or overwhelm, causing us to miss opportunities we could have capitalized on.” – Lauren Mishkin, MS, LMHC

• We’re Experiencing Burnout. When we’re not comfortable in the present moment, not making time for the things we value, and not taking sufficient time for rest, it is inevitable that we feel anxious and eventually burnt out. When we’re experiencing burnout, we often don’t have the energy to talk down our anxiety in the way we otherwise might. But thankfully, if we treat our burnout, we can also lighten the load of our anxiety.
• We Aren’t Practicing Gratitude. How can we be happy if we don’t appreciate the things we actually have? Gratitude helps us to see the good in ordinary life, but it also grounds us in a comfortable reality.  The trick to being wealthy isn’t being able to buy everything you want, it’s being able to want everything you have.
• We Don’t Speak To Ourselves With Kindness. If you were at work, and your boss was making constant demands of you without asking or saying please, you might start to feel anxious. Now imagine that boss is also calling you names, reminding you of embarrassing personal incidents from your past, and just generally demeaning you as you try to do what you were told. I think most anyone would be anxious in that situation. It might sound extreme, but that’s exactly what we put ourselves through when we engage in negative self-talk. If we don’t speak kindly to ourselves, then anxiety is one of the consequences.

Aetna Therapists That Can Help With Money Anxiety In St. Petersburg 

Quality therapy can be affordable too! If you have health insurance from Aetna, and you’re looking for affordable mental health care, we know how to help. Lauren Mishkin is a St. Petersburg therapist who’s covered by Aetna, but no matter who your insurance provider is, Integrative Counsel is committed to helping you find quality care. We can connect you with a therapist that’s right for you and covered by your insurance.

• Therapists Who Accept Aetna Insurance. It’s daunting to face your mental health issues on a budget. Who wants to decide between a quality therapist and one who’s favored by our healthcare plan? With Lauren, you don’t have to choose. Lauren Mishkin, LMHC, is a mental health expert who accepts Aetna. 
• Counselors Who Accept United Healthcare. Our counselors aren’t just a sympathetic ear when times get tough. They offer you real solutions for whatever problem you’re facing, and they accept United Healthcare!
• Counseling For People With Optum Oscar. Finding the right therapist for you can be like rolling a boulder uphill. Finding the right therapist for both you and your insurance can be like rolling a boulder uphill every day and having it roll back down again every night. If you have insurance from Optum (whether it’s Optum Oscar, Optum Oxford, or United Optum, we can match you with a right-fit counselor who’s covered by your plan.

“I think a lot of people are making a lot of money spreading anxiety. Anxiety sells.” – Terence McKenna

How Would A Therapist Heal Money Anxiety?

“Do you know what causes chronically dysregulated nervous systems? Toxic stress. What differentiates toxic stress from manageable stress often varies from person to person. The more trauma we have stored in our body that has not been healed, the more likely it is for stress to be experienced as toxic by our bodies. The fewer coping strategies we have to self-regulate in moments of tension or uncertainty, the more likely we are to experience it as toxic stress. The fewer sources of support we have to handle the stressor, the more likely it will be experienced as toxic stress. The combination of stored trauma with a lack of coping skills can be a recipe for suffering and poor health outcomes in tumultuous times. Investing in your own wellbeing is never frivolous. It is essential to building a happy healthy existence where you no longer fear your reactions or inactions. And that I believe is priceless.” – Lauren Mishkin, MS, LMHC

• Therapy Can Help You Rethink Your Relationship With Money. Sometimes, the simplest solution is to go back to square one and start over from scratch. A therapist like Lauren can help you curb your oldest most difficult habits and find a fresh start.
• A Therapist Can Help You Practice Self Love. Self love keeps us willing and motivated to keep going even when there’s anxiety on the rise. A counselor like Lauren can help you learn how to actively and authentically participate in self-love.
• Therapy Doesn’t Have To Break Your Budget. If the cost of therapy is a factor in your money anxiety, then the act of seeking help is that much harder. Lauren can give you the quality therapy you deserve at a price that’s well within your means.

How Therapy Offers Relief From Money Anxiety 

“If a client came to me expressing anxiety about money, I would first start by asking them what kind of relationship with money they would like.  We all have different financial goals, be it living in excess or just trying to make ends meet, and first identifying what you want is important.  With inflation and the idea of being a “success,” it can be stressful and upsetting when we feel like we are falling behind.  But what does success mean to each of us?  The first thing would be to identify what you want with money and your reasons that you want it.  Are there adjustments that can be made to accomplish financial goals?  Can we feel success in things that aren’t measured by money? Just know that you are not alone in these thoughts and struggles, but the way we frame our relationship with money can always be a great start!” – Michael Anthony, LCSW

• Therapy Helps Us Rewrite Our Old Stories. The stories we tell ourselves reflect our experience of the past, but they can also predict our future (and not in a fun way). We go towards that which we’re looking at. If we’re constantly dwelling in anxiety and failure, then that’ll be where we’re headed. A counselor like Michael can help you tell a better story of your past and live in a better future.
• Therapy Saves You Money In The Long Run. If we don’t have the tools to cope with our anxiety, we pay for it. Often literally. Whether it’s alcohol, gadgets, fancy dinners, or even just a simple cup of coffee, there’s no end to the things we buy when we’re seeking relief from our anxiety. A therapist like Michael can give you the tools to stop your anxiety in its tracks without spending a single red cent.
• Therapy Really Can Make A Difference. The right therapist can open doors for us we’d have never thought to open. When you’re working with a therapist like Michael, you can free yourself from the survival mindset and start living the life you actually want.

 If you feel stuck on your healing journey, working with a therapist can help. Based on your needs, our intake specialist will help you get matched up with your perfect therapist. Click here to schedule a consultation.

Sunny Ebsary is an educator, multi-modal artist, and writer specializing in the intersection of myth and mental health. Sunny’s writing walks the line between poetic and logical, giving readers a chance to interface with the mind and imagination. Sunny’s been putting pen to paper since he was a child, writing everything from albums, novels, and plays, to essays, interactive games, and of course, many articles! While studying both psychology and writing, he realized his real passion in life was helping others unlock their creative spark. Whether he’s leading a D&D game, directing a production, or diving deep into the brain, you can be sure Sunny will be ushering you toward finding meaning in your life.