When someone is contending with prolonged financial pressure, there is a certain stillness that settles over them. Not the frantic, heart-racing panic that comes with a bill that is past due. Something with less noise. More weighty.
An apartment with two bedrooms is occupied by a couple who are using their banking application while sitting at a small kitchen table. The lighting is fluorescent. The numbers are not exactly indicative of a catastrophe. Yet, they are very close. Once more. The coffee has become ice-cold. No one is arguing. There is no one crying. Simply put, they are level.
| Name | Dr. Elizabeth Scott, PhD |
|---|---|
| Profession | Stress Management Expert & Health Educator |
| Specialty | Financial stress, coping strategies, emotional resilience |
| Published With | Verywell Mind |
| Years of Experience | 15+ years in stress and emotional wellbeing education |
| Reference Website | 15+ years in stress and emotional well-being education |
A switch may be quietly flipped in the brain whenever the stress caused by financial matters lasts for a period of time that extends from weeks to months. There are times when the nervous system does the opposite of what it normally does, which is to escalate into panic. It becomes ice-cold.
This phenomenon is referred to as emotional numbness, which is a shutdown response, by psychologists. According to clinicians who have written for websites such as Verywell Mind and the Cleveland Clinic’s Health Essentials, emotional blunting can occur when the brain is overloaded, causing it to essentially press pause in order to prevent overload. The organization is unable to differentiate between a predatory lender and a notice of foreclosure proceedings. Each of them constitutes a threat.
This shutdown, in theory, is protecting us from harm. When you put it into practice, it can feel like you are vanishing within your own life.
Research that has been published in the National Health Interview Survey has repeatedly demonstrated that concerns regarding one’s financial situation are linked to a significant degree of psychological distress. What is less frequently discussed is the dissociation that can sometimes follow subsequent events. Rather than experiencing a spiraling outward manifestation of anxiety, people report feeling detached, as if they were watching their own lives from behind a glass shield.
One gets the impression that society anticipates obvious signs of distress, such as tears, anger, and breakdowns. That is not how numbness fits into the script. Therefore, it is frequently overlooked.
At first, the signs are not so obvious. Despite receiving a promotion at work, there is no sign of excitement in the air. A drawing that the child has brought home from school is met with a response that appears to be forced. It is as if one is listening to music from another room, even when one is hearing good news. When people talk about this, it is difficult not to notice that they use the phrase “existing, not living.”
More money is lost than saved when there is persistent financial strain. It depletes one’s emotional capabilities. Since cortisol, also known as the stress hormone, stays elevated for an excessively long period of time, the nervous system adjusts. It has been suggested by many researchers that prolonged stress can result in a form of emotional exhaustion, which causes individuals to function on autopilot.
Once, a father who was 29 years old and had to deal with unexpected medical bills and tuition payments provided a straightforward description of the situation: “I don’t even panic anymore.” All I do is freeze.” The fact that he had dropped out of college was a source of disappointment for a relative who appeared to be able to handle everything. In place of anger, he experienced nothing at all. More than the debt, he was more concerned about that absence.
Shame makes the situation more complicated.
In a lot of different cultures, money has a moral significance. An indication of competence is success. Indicative of failure is struggle. When one’s financial situation becomes more difficult, one’s sense of self-worth frequently follows. By declining social invitations, avoiding unopened envelopes, and delaying difficult conversations, people start to avoid difficult situations. In the short term, avoidance dampens the blow, but in the long run, it quietly drives the cycle deeper.
The investors are familiar with this pattern. When markets experience a decline, some investors completely stop monitoring their portfolios in the hope that time will heal the damage. Similar actions are taken by individuals with regard to their personal finances. Refusing to look is a safer move. Then again, it isn’t.
Paralysis of decision-making is another issue. Suddenly, seemingly insignificant purchases, such as groceries or the cost of a school field trip, feel like monumental sums of money. When the brain is already under stress, it has difficulty prioritizing. Whether the numbness is the cause of the paralysis or the other way around is still not entirely clear. Presumably, they are mutually supportive of one another.
And finally, there is exhaustion.
It is now widely acknowledged that one of the most significant external stressors that working adults face is financial stress. In addition to showing up for work, attending meetings, and completing tasks, employees are also mentally calculating when they will be paid. From the outside, it appears that the performance is consistent. On the inside, there is a dulling sensation.
There is a strong temptation to view numbness as a sign of weakness. On the other hand, neurologically speaking, it is frequently the opposite. A protective reflex is what it is. When it is no longer possible to continue fighting or fleeing, the body will choose to freeze.
Protection does, however, come at a price.
When left unchecked, emotional blunting can eventually lead to depression. Neglecting to take pleasure in hobbies. I am withdrawing from my friends. Continuous exhaustion that is not alleviated by physical activity. When numbness persists for several weeks or months, professionals in the field of mental health recommend seeking assistance. Behavioral therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy, have both demonstrated potential in treating stress-related shutdown responses.
On the other hand, clinical language can only go so far. On a more pragmatic level, it appears that tiny steps are important.
Reconnecting the body to the here and now in a gentle manner is the goal of grounding techniques, which include noticing five things you see, four things you can touch, and three things you hear. It is possible to prevent anxiety from spreading into every hour by scheduling a predetermined “worry window” for one’s financial situation. Some financial counselors have reported that the mere act of establishing a transparent repayment plan can lessen the perceived threat, thereby reducing the emotional intensity.
Directly looking at the numbers carries with it a certain kind of power that is not immediately obvious. To avoid putting yourself down. merely to look at them. Fear can be alleviated by clarity.
In addition, it is important to acknowledge that the pressures on the economy have increased over the past few years. An increase in the cost of housing, the cost of healthcare, and the amount of student loans are not examples of personal failure. These are the realities of the structure. Realizing that context can help alleviate the feelings of isolation that many people experience.
Observing someone emerge from a state of financial numbness is a process that takes time. Very infrequently does it involve significant breakthroughs. The majority of the time, it is a brief chuckle that comes back during dinner. One’s interest in an old hobby has been reignited. A discussion with a partner who appears to be less guarded about their feelings.
Stress brought on by finances does not always scream. Occasionally, it will whisper. It smoothes out the color. It dampens the response.
This numbness, however, is not permanent. It’s not a verdict; it’s just a signal. It is not a declaration of defeat; rather, the brain is pleading for relief.
Furthermore, in a society that views financial success as synonymous with one’s identity, it is possible that remembering this distinction is one of the most essential emotional safeguards we possess.