Rushing interest rates and rampant food prices are a permanent feature of everyday life these days. And the stress over the wallet issues eats away at the body.
– The biggest stress factor is uncertainty. We do not know how the prices will develop and therefore cannot make a plan, says Niclas Almén, psychologist and stress researcher at Mittuniversitetet in Sundsvall.
A low-intensity threat picture
When we feel a threat to something important, the body reacts by secreting stress hormones. It prepares the body for a fight against what threatens our existence, for example the lack of money.
– The economy is a resource that can protect us against almost anything. It allows us to satisfy our basic needs such as eating and having a roof over our heads. Without money, we cannot put food on the table for our children.
Niclas Almén says that the stress is sometimes so low-intensity that we don’t think about it. But it bubbles under the surface.
– In principle, the body reacts to financial stress in the same way as any other stress, he says.
Limit the news
As we are constantly reminded of the situation, it also becomes difficult to let go of our thoughts about it.
– It can help to concretize exactly what you are afraid of. What is the worst that can happen and what are my options? How likely is the worst to happen? says Niclas Almén.
As a rule, stress is not a problem for us – provided you can let it go sometimes.
– It becomes a problem if we watch a TV feature on economics for five minutes and then think about the feature for three hours afterwards. Then you should probably limit your news consumption, says Niclas Almén.
In the clip, the psychologist explains which symptoms to watch out for and what protects us against financial stress.