May is Mental Health Awareness month
Questions to ask yourself to recognize spending patterns
- How do you feel when you make a purchase?
- What feelings do you experience when you need to make a big purchase?
- Are there moments in time where you’re more likely to spend money?
- Are there moments in time when you’re less likely to spend money?
- How comfortable do you feel talking about money?
- How often do you check your bank account? How does it make you feel?
- What aspects of coping with money and mental health make things worse? (i.e., opening a bill in the mail, online banking, paying rent every month)
Tips to reduce the impact of financial stress on your mental health
- Make one decision at a time.
- Create (and stick to) a budget/ spending plan
- Monitor your spending.
- Pinpoint your financial stressors.
- Recognize the emotions you feel related to money.
- Implement healthy coping mechanisms into your mental fitness plan.
- Seek the support of a coach.
- Talk to a trained mental health professional.
If you’re living with a mental health condition, feeling symptoms of mental illness for the first time, or maybe you’ve noticed your symptoms are worsening with the impacts of your financial situation, talk to a doctor or trained mental health professional.
