Archive for the 'Finances' Category

Nov 24 2012

Who are we? What is truly important? Why are we here?

The unexamined life is not worth living. -Socrates

The Greek philosopher Socrates was willing to die for the right to ask insightful questions. While we don’t have to make that kind of choice today, we still have a lot of questions about our lives that we may need help in answering…

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Mar 30 2009

FINANCIAL ANXIETY

Has the recent news of financial meltdowns in America left you feeling anxious or worried? While these feelings can be emotionally exhausting they can also have an impact on your health. According to a study by Paul Lavarkas of Ohio State University, people who had a higher rate credit card debt suffered more heart attacks, insomnia and emotional distress than people with lower or no credit card debt.(Lavarkas & Drenta,2002). Worry over finances can lead to increased conflict among partners, or can turn inward into depression or anxiety.

Worries about money are rarely just anxiety over finances. Developing a relationship with a therapist can help you to discover some of the unproductive ways you may be viewing or using money, how this developed, and how to overcome it. You may overspend when you shop because it lets you forget about a bad day.  You may finance big purchases because you feel like you deserve it for your hard work. Maybe you grew up in a fiscally stressed household and as a result became a very thrifty person, to the point that you don’t allow yourself any extra for luxuries, resulting in poor self-care. Whatever the case may be, a relationship with a therapist can the first step toward working on the tools for developing a healthier attitude toward finances

There are several ways that you can manage these worries. One way to help calm down is to turn off the news! Try to avoid watching cable or local news shows that increase your anxiety level. Simple lifestyle changes can lead to a healthier relationship with money.  Cut out daily expenditures such as daily dining out for lunch or buying coffee on the way to work. Put the money that you would have spent on these “little treats” into savings or use it towards paying off debt. You can even earn money in creative ways. Clear out your clutter and have a yard sale. Take old children’s clothes or toys to a consignment shop. Place some of your forgotten treasures on Craigslist or Ebay.

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