Financial stress can cause stomach problems –- luckily we can take measures to reduce the effects of financial stress on our digestive health.
No matter your circumstances, for most people there just never seems to be enough money. This problem can be compounded when faced with unemployment, a high debt burden, or simply not having enough to make ends meet. The pressures of these difficulties can directly effect our digestive systems, resulting in unpleasant physical symptoms. Here are some ideas for off-setting the effect of financial worries on your body’s digestive functioning:
1. Identify Thinking Errors
Experiencing money pressures is stressful! Be careful not to worsen things by engaging in these common errors:
- Negative Self Talk: Whether it was bad luck, poor decision-making, or a combination of both, that has resulted in your financial difficulties, it is not going to help things to be harsh with yourself
- Pessimism: Be careful not to let your brain get carried away with overly gloomy thoughts or anxiety-provoking “What if” scenarios.
- Awfulizing: As bad as things may be, few things in life are truly “awful.”
2. Think Healthy
Once you have identified negative thoughts, you can replace them with reality-based helpful thoughts:
- Calming Self Talk: Talk to yourself as if you were your own best friend. You are dealing with significant stress and so you certainly could benefit from thoughts that are gentle, kind and reassuring.
- Keep it in the Day: Keep your focus on today’s challenges rather than fretting about what “might happen.”
- Maintain a Balanced Perspective: Spend some time making a list of the blessings that you have in your life to offset the mind’s tendency to dwell on problems.
3. Draw Up a Written Plan
While a negative future focus is unproductive, it is helpful to spend some time identifying practical steps for addressing your financial concerns. Here are some resources:
4. Get Physical
You can do a variety of things with your body to help it better handle outside stressors such as money problems. The following options either help the body discharge nervous energy or serve to send a message to your brain that there is no immediate threat. The nice thing about these physical options is that they provide you with concrete activities that you can do to help regain a feeling of control in your life.
5. Try Probiotics
Probiotics are “helpful” bacteria that you can take in the form of a supplement. Probiotics appear to work by creating an optimal balance of bacteria in your intestines. This may help reduce any digestive symptoms that you are experiencing in response to your financial stress. Probiotics are generally well-tolerated, meaning that they carry little risk of negative side effects.Essential Reading:
Take this fun poll: Is the economy going to your gut?
