Money anxiety/OCD

[Volturi]

Hi all,

Just wanted to share my experience of money anxiety and OCD tendencies.

I’m very fixated on money and numbers…check my bank account everyday, obsess over my salary and increments, obsess over lessening spending, monitoring the smart meter for our consumption. This looks like no heating on during the day, no matter how cold I am, only buying discounted sensible winter clothing (live in Scotland), eat one solid meal a day, skip breakfast and have a snack lunch.

Myself and my fiancé take home a decent wage, I’m on £28,900+ and he’s on £21,000. Our monthly take home is roughly £3,200.

I can’t bare getting my nails done or buying another coat when my only coat works perfectly fine. I haven’t had my hair cut since October since I feel too guilty…before that I went 10 years cutting my own hair to save money!

From the outside looking in we have a lovely detached home backing onto gorgeous woodland, I own my car outright and fiancé works from home…scratch the surface and realise the huge sacrifice and anxiety going on behind the scenes…

OCD is so consuming and money anxiety you can’t escape from…I’m on medication but it only helps so much in this current economic climate

Hi op

I too constantly check banking apps for what's out and upcoming a few times a day even though I know what it is.

I also check my online smart meter account for electricity a few times a day

In my house my ocd and anxiety around finances comes in the form of keeping the thermostat low,not using the tumble dryer at all which results in so much more work and effort on my part ( full time job plus another side job of around 12 to 15 hrs weekly)and two teens to look after,meal planning as well as I can,always scouring the reduced section,constantly looking at my fuel useage and combining as many needed trips out as possible to save on fuel.

I'm on go compare a lot and have the dates for all insurances on notes on my phone ready to swap around.

I colour my own hair and cut my own fringe and ends and haven't had any beauty treatments done for years since way before the pandemic.

Two years of covid has ripped the life out of our savings and finances and we are still getting on an even keel to then try and build things bak up again so the new massive increases in fuel utilities food tax clothes etc etc is making it all alot harder right now and my stress is coming out as obsessing about where we can save but can sometimes be an unhealthy thought process whereby il challenge myself to only eat once a day but drink plenty of water etc

My normal
Way of dealing with this is to walk early in the mornings with podcasts on and I really feel myself decompress.

Problem is my sleeps being erratic and alongside working two jobs and running a home I'm struggling to find the energy to get up early enough to do it.

I'm recognising the last few weeks that I'm mentally tired alot and my main job is mentally hard work so I've just started ten minute yoga before bed to wind myself down to try and bring myself back to rationally minded.

It's shit isn't it

I am self employed and worry about money a lot. I used to love listening to the radio is radio 4 and BBC radio and I still listen but too much about the cost of living crisis. I keep going to the front door several times a day to check it is locked. I try to cut down on media overload but anxiety still remains.

Have you tried CBT? I have OCD, though not specifically about money. I am in a period of relatively good mental health now, following a bad time last year. CBT was crucial alongside the medication in breaking the pattern of difficult thoughts and compulsions.
Please think about referring yourself or getting your GP to if that works better where you are. Even if you've tried it before, have another go or look at some further counselling. Sometimes it takes more than one go at it to make progress.
Wishing you well, I know first hand how difficult it is.

I had hynotherapy for this. It did work.

I'm still pretty frugal but prioritise spending instead so we spend on nice food and holidays.

Our mortgage is paid and we have money in the bank which is a good feeling.

Just found this thread looking for anxiety and money.

I'm struggling more atm with the cost of living crisis and costs rising everywhere. It's really hard.

OP - have you had any counselling ?