Debt free- crippling anxiety

Beeboo23

So I'm not sure if this is the correct place to post about this. 
I managed to pay off all of my debts around a year ago excluding my mortgage and the occasional small credit card balance which is paid in full at the end of each month. 
However, I can't shake the feeling of crippling financial anxiety!
I don't feel like I can talk to anyone I know about it as I'm relatively well off compared to my peers/family and I can totally see how it would come across as insensitive. I just feel like I set my self a financial goal such as paying off debt or saving for a house deposit and then minute I reach them I'm then completely absorbed in the next goal. I never give myself credit for the things I have done and then I'm completely obsessed with the next. It's at the point where I'm constantly checking my accounts, probably each account gets checked several times an hour (when I'm not working). It's like I'm obsessed with looking at my bank statements but it's becoming really unhealthy and I'm really stressing myself out and I don't know how to stop.
I'm constantly worried that I'll lose everything I've worked for and I have it in my head that if I can just achieve that next goal I'll feel happy and secure but in reality it never happens. I think this stems from childhood as I grew up with nothing so money has always been a strong source of anxiety for me. Some of my earliest memories involve worrying about not having food/wondering if we'll have somewhere to live.
Does anyone else experience this or have any good coping mechanisms on how to deal with it because it's really unbearable at times!

SavvySaverSam

Hi Beeboo,

I grew up in similar circumstances and have similar unhealthy obsessions. 

I have always been concerned with having a lack of food so constantly fill my cupboards ‘just in case’ and get anxiety if there’s a free space in the fridge 

Personally, I feel issues as such require professional help. I took up CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) which helped to an extent. 

Also, I’m not a doctor but have you looked into OCD? People often assume it’s an obsession with cleaning but takes shape in manyyyyyy other ways. 

Anxiety is a tough one to deal with. Especially when you struggle
to justify it yourself. Often we realise that our concerns are illogical but we simply cannot help it!! 

Best of luck. 

TheAble

I found this article helpful in putting things in perspective:

https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2014/05/29/give-yourself-the-gift-of-not-worrying-about-money/

MMM's one of my personal financial heroes. Hopefully helps you too

Beeboo23

SavvySaverSam said:

Hi Beeboo,

I grew up in similar circumstances and have similar unhealthy obsessions. 

I have always been concerned with having a lack of food so constantly fill my cupboards ‘just in case’ and get anxiety if there’s a free space in the fridge 

Personally, I feel issues as such require professional help. I took up CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) which helped to an extent. 

Also, I’m not a doctor but have you looked into OCD? People often assume it’s an obsession with cleaning but takes shape in manyyyyyy other ways. 

Anxiety is a tough one to deal with. Especially when you struggle
to justify it yourself. Often we realise that our concerns are illogical but we simply cannot help it!! 

Best of luck. 

I can definitely relate to the food thing as well! It's taken me years to learn how to stick to a shopping list and not just pile the trolley like I'm on an episode of supermarket sweep!
I've definitely dealt with OCD as a child! It probably now manifests in different ways.

I think I need to look into a therapist. 

Good luck to you too!

Beeboo23

TheAble said:

I found this article helpful in putting things in perspective:

https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2014/05/29/give-yourself-the-gift-of-not-worrying-about-money/

MMM's one of my personal financial heroes. Hopefully helps you too

Thank you, I'll have a good read!

Purplelady65

I’m sorry to hear of your situation particularly when your finances sound in really good shape and there’s nothing to worry about. It seems that your childhood experiences have resulted in you being over anxious about money. You may benefit from counselling or CBT to help you understand more why you feel as you do but also to change some of your behaviours e.g. constantly checking your bank accounts. Here is a link to Mind which explains how to access a therapist. 

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/talking-therapy-and-counselling/how-to-find-a-therapist/