I’ve written about it a lot over the years, and by “it” I refer to my six-figure credit card debt and how it affected me mentally, physically, and spiritually. I speak of it routinely, as I have addressed audiences across the United States and around the world. Although my debt has been paid off for many years now (my gratitude knows no limits), I can recall and re-live the stress in a heartbeat—and I do, every time I talk about it. It’s real. It’s palpable.
For many years, I assumed I was the only one who'd ever experienced this—that I was an anomaly and a true nutcase. Why else would I continue down such a destructive path, piling on more and more debt while finding new and improved ways to hide this from my husband? Why would I find the pain of the debt and the lengths to which I had to go to keep all my destructive plates spinning so much more desirable than the far less bad pain of facing what I was doing, coming clean, and owning up?
Oh, the shame, the fear. I was afraid of being found out but even more terrified that I couldn’t stop this thing that was spinning out of control. I couldn’t think, couldn’t sleep. And then it happened. I hit rock bottom. No more available credit. No more stories that would satisfy the collection calls. No more hiding. I began spiraling down into a deep, dark pit of despair—an emotional, bottomless pit.
Turns out I’m not the only person on Earth who has ever experienced the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual effects of heavy debt and financial turmoil. What I experienced is real, its effects measurable. And now it has a name, thanks to scientific research and discovery.
According to Ryan Howes, PhD, in Psychology Today, acute financial stress (AFS) has a remarkable similarity to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), resulting in many of the same symptoms as PTSD, presenting problems with sleep, problems with relationships, upsetting thoughts, emotional outbursts, avoidance, difficulty concentrating, being jumpy when the phone rings or easily startled, surges in heart rate, elevated blood pressure, fear, despair, abdominal pain, outbursts of anger, and frequent failure to think clearly.
Simple stress management techniques do help AFS sufferers gain more control over their stress. These techniques are not new. Stress is stress. These tried-and-true techniques borrowed from cognitive behavioral therapy, when applied personally on a daily basis, can bring remarkable results that allow AFS sufferers to get back on track and onto their joyful journey to financial freedom.
I’ve discovered this kind of self-therapy is super helpful. Try it! You‘ll find yourself able to think more clearly and get back to the work of living your get-out-of-debt plan, willing to endure temporary sacrifices that will speed you to your goals. Soon you’ll know and experience what I’ve come to believe because I have lived it.
